It Starts Small

Often times, when something doesn’t make sense I have this automatic reaction to think I have done something wrong. I have caused a situation to change and because of me, the world is turned upside down. In some cases, that is true. But I’m talking about those moments when nothing make sense. When it feels like God is galaxies away.

I’d imagine Joseph felt the same way when he was sold into slavery. Here the Lord had given him great visions, and yet his very own kin sold him into slavery. His own kin had abandoned him and refused him. I wonder what he thought as he was being forced out of his home and away from everything he knew and loved.

What do we do when we are practicing and applying the proper principles but nothing seems to make sense?

Joseph had been sold into slavery and he was purchased By a prominent Egyptian. Eventually his hard work gained the trust of his master and he was in charge of all of his house. The master’s wife accuses Joseph of rape and he was thrown into prison.

Doesn’t it feel like sometimes we are in prison and we have no idea why. How do we practice the presence of God when you are in a dungeon?

The greatest mistake we make is to demand of God why. We try to make sense of it and demand God to give us understanding and an explanation. Joseph had done nothing wrong. He was serving God by working hard and working in service to God all he was doing. When difficulties come, try to understand, but don’t demand God to give you understanding.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. 11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow. Isaiah 50:10-11

You can be serving and obeying and still find yourself in great darkness and in great perplexity. God has given us the story of Job. He lived in a time of great darkness. In his moaning and crying he demanded of God to give him understanding. God, you owe me answers. Habakkuk cried out to God, why are you allowing all this violence and brutality? John the Baptist sent messenger to Jesus and asked him, are you really the Messiah? Paul even confessed he didn’t understand.

We all come to a time when things don’t make sense. We have to stand on the principle that darkness can not put the light out. Darkness doesn’t mean evil has prevailed. If God has removed the light, trust him! There are things we are not meant to understand.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. I believe if we knew all of what God was doing, we would tell him how to do his job. We would disagree with his ways. We would have a better way we think he should do things. I believe in the times we don’t understand it’s for our own good. It’s an opportunity for us to take that step into deeper waters of trust. It’s not easy. I confess I get frustrated with this situation more than anything. Why can’t God just give my husband the things he’s given me? Why can’t my husband see and hear God? It’s so amazing and awesome? Why? Why? Why?

I think we get stuck on that word: why? I believe we are asking the wrong question. Just because it doesn’t make sense now, doesn’t mean it won’t make sense later. We also have to accept that in some situations, we may never know until we get to heaven. Even then, will it matter?

We also have guard our faith and not fail in it.

But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Genesis 39:21

Joseph could have easily found a dark corner and sat in the darkness of his cell and sulked. He could’ve sat there day in and out and cried in pity, why me? He could’ve felt sorry for himself, but instead he drew on his faith and continued to serve the Lord. Times of darkness are not times to drop out of the race. More than ever they’re the best times to serve God. Its a call to seek him and trust in him.

Joseph found favor with the master of the prison and he was put in charge of the place. He spent almost two decades in prison ministering to the needs of the prisoners. Because of this, he met a butler and baker thrown into the prison by Pharaoh. He had interpreted the dreams of these men. One of them returned to service to Pharaoh and when Pharaoh had disturbing dreams no one could interpret, the man remembered Joseph could interpret the dreams.

Don’t drop out! Keep praying, seeking, giving, and submitting! God is with you! Don’t be fair weather about life. Don’t pout and get angry with God. Don’t let external circumstances bring you bitterness.

13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. 14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

Joseph acknowledged his situation. It wasn’t a pretty past, but he knew God was with him. How often do we get mad at God when he doesn’t answer prayer as we think he should? How often do we forget to forgive others and hold a grudge against others or even God himself for not giving us what we want? If we are not careful in darkness, we will get bitter when things don’t make sense.

We have to be willing to wait. We need to remember we run with endurance. Most Bible translations say patience and we all groan at that word. I confess I do too. But it’s endurance we need. The butler forgot about Joseph when he returned to service to the pharaoh. Joseph continued to spend 16 more years in prison! Never once did he sit in the corner licking his wounds and petting bitterness which opens the door to hate. He saw opportunity to use his skills and talents for the Lord.

We have to exercise endurance. Don’t get hasty. Don’t get impatient. I try to focus on the what. In the space between God doing what he has revealed and it happening, there’s an adventure going on. Instead of focusing on the darkness, I jump on the train and see what God would have for me in between. I’ve found he’s been preparing me. I am continually praying this Psalm:

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. Psalm 37:5-9

Rest upon the Lord and wait patiently. If he’s spoken he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it. He is not a liar. Humble yourself and rest under his wing!

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 1 Peter 5:6

God has not forgotten you. He has his own time and schedule. When we moved into this house there was a clock on the wall. It’s since broke. We’ve changed the batteries several times but it seems the gears are messed up. It’s about an hour and a half off. I don’t look at that clock to see what time it is. When I look at that clock it’s to remind me that God has his timing and schedule. I need to be patient and just wait.

Finally, don’t let your dreams dissolve in the darkness. Joseph never forgot about the dreams God gave him decades earlier. It was a God given dream and as time passed, that dream came to fruition. We all know that because Joseph could interpret the pharaoh’s dreams he saved not only the Hebrews but all of the the land from a great famine.

I’ve found that my own dreams had been crushed in the darkness. For years I had given up on the desires of my heart. Desires that were born out of the innocence of being a young girl. Through the darkness God has lit a fire to those desires. My family thinks I’m crazy for getting up so early in the morning. It’s a natural alarm clock. The darkest part of the night is right before the sun comes up. I like to sit in that darkness and pray knowing God has spoken. God has answered and just as I know the sun is going to rise over the ridge, the morning is going to come.

God has not forgotten you.