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In the Meantime

March 6, 2020 //  by Nikol//  4 Comments

Last Tuesday on the podcast, we started Joseph’s story. Today, we reach the pinnacle moment of restoration and reconciliation in his story. It reminded me of this post from January 2011. I hope you enjoy it, and if you want to hear all of Joseph’s story, listen to episodes 37 – 50 of the Coffee With Christ podcast right here on the website or on your favorite podcast app.

I love Joseph! I mean I really, really, really love Joseph. I love him for many reasons, but I think it’s because I can relate to him.

He was foolish when he was young. 
Humility was not his strong suit. 
His mouth got him into trouble. 

When Joseph was 17, God gave him a dream about what was to come. He didn’t ask God if he should share his dream with others. He just did.  At 17, I’m sure his approach wasn’t exactly what it should have been. I’m sure it was more bragging than bashful, more proud than prudent.

“Guess what God told me!” Joseph said to his brothers. “God said that I was going to rule over you. You…and Mom….and Dad, y’all are all going to bow down and worship me.”

OK. So, maybe he wasn’t quite that blunt, but his presentation of the dream was done in a way that his brothers quickly caught on to what he was saying.

They weren’t happy.

They already hated him (Gen. 37:5).

Joseph had just added some C4 to a smoldering fire, and it was only a matter of time before the burning embers of resentment turned into flickering flames of anger which would eventually ignite into rage.

On an ordinary day, Joseph sets out at the request of his father to check on his brothers (Gen. 37:13-14). Why wasn’t he with them? I can only speculate. They probably didn’t want to be around him, so they left him at home to hang with Dad.

As Joseph set off to find his brothers, he had no idea what laid before him.

He had no idea his brothers would do what they did.
He had no idea that the road to the palace began in a pit.
He had no idea that before his brothers would bow he would be broken.

Do you think Joseph would’ve wanted his “dream” if God told him his brothers were going to plot his demise?

Do you think he’d approve of God’s plan if he knew he would have to pass through such pain, heartache and betrayal?

Would he hop on board if he knew the next 13 years would be spent enslaved and falsely imprisoned?

Would you?

Would I?

Sometimes, like Joseph, God gives us glimpses of what He wants to do with us. Every now and then, He’ll bless us with a fleeting view of the big picture – a peek at the blueprint of His building – a taste of the sweetness to come. Sometimes God lets us in on His secret.

Sometimes.

What does He do in the meantime?

He teaches us to trust Him.
He stretches our faith.
He tests our endurance.

He teaches us His ways.
He holds us in His righteous right hand.
He wipes the tears from our face.

He proves that His ways are always right.
He shows us that He can work anything for good.
He teaches us that love sometimes means a lesson.

He proves that His timing is impeccable.
He demonstrates that His grace is sufficient.
He teaches us to hope only in Him.

He builds our character.
He displays His power and might.
He shows us His glory.

He provides.
He rebukes.
He comforts.

He sustains.
He loves.
He restores.

And in the end, He proves to be faithful.

The next time you find yourself faced with a seemingly unfair situation; or you find yourself standing in a pit of pain that seems to swallow you whole; just remember Joseph.

Remember Joseph’s promise and his journey.

Remember that God is bigger than your present circumstance.

While you can’t see the forest for the trees, He does, because He created – not only the trees – but the forest in which they stand. He knows exactly where you are and exactly what you are going through, and He knows exactly how to finish what He started (Philippians 1:6).

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Category: Reflections, Struggles

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susie Mc Sellers

    January 16, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    Girl…you are so gifted! I pray that the Lord will continue to anoint you this year with more power and revelation than you could ever begin to imagine. I haven’t had a chance to respond to your email but I am so moved by your blog. Thank you for being transparent. Thank you for loving people. Thank you for being YOU. This is a beautiful story, and you have even enhanced it more with your willingness to share and be so vulnerable. Love you…and if you could send me your phone number via email that would be great. Sometimes it’s easier to talk than respond to emails. God bless you this 2011 Nikol! YOU ROCK!!! JEREMIAH 29:11 for 2011

    Reply
  2. Hope

    January 15, 2011 at 4:10 PM

    Amen Sister!
    Last year, I was struggling with an unfair situation with a family member. I felt betrayed, taken advantage of, and just down right hurt at the greed this person exhibited. Yet, a very smart friend of mine (Nikol) told me to remember Joseph and how God’s glory shinned through his brothers’ deception. One of my favorite verses is Genesis 50:20 NIV –You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

    Reply
  3. Catherine Sandy

    January 15, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    Enjoyed this so much!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Coffee with Christ | Avenues of Adversity says:
    September 4, 2013 at 7:07 AM

    […] have a list in my head of people I want to talk to when I get to Heaven.  Joseph is in the top 3.  I think about his story a lot. God tells him one thing and then the story goes […]

    Reply

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