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March 1, 2012 By Stephen Underwood Leave a Comment

Lessons from Hardships

Gen. 45:5 “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.”

Gen. 45:7 “And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”

Gen. 45:8 “So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

If we truly understood, realized, and knew that anything and everything that happens in our Christian lives is of God and by God, we would certainly be better able to praise him even during the valley!

Looking at the life of Joseph; he was hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, accused and imprisoned by Potiphar, and forgotten in prison by the baker; yet he knew that the Lord had a special purpose for his life. When most of us would turn, run, and hate our lives; Joseph was mindful of the fact that God loved him, and wanted to use him.

When we are in the valley; when we are going through hardship and trials; God is working in us and preparing us for His perfect will. We need to submit and allow Him to use difficult times to mold us into a vessel He can use!

My wife’s favorite verse, and many others as well, is Romans 8:28. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Just like in Joseph’s life, all things; hardships, trials, tribulation, ALL THINGS are working together, not just to mature us, but for GOOD! That is an amazing thought in itself; it is for GOOD! Why? According to His purpose!

The Lord wants to use your life! The reward we have on this earth is not recognition. It is not applause of man. It is not a pat on the back. The reward we have on this earth is; that the God of Heaven can and will use YOU! The reward we have in Heaven is a crown of righteousness (2Tim. 4:8) that we can lay at our Savior’s feet, and thank Him, and worship Him, for He is worthy!

My prayer is that even in hardship, I will know, and recognize that God has a purpose for my life, according to His will! This realization will encourage us through difficult times, if we allow it.

Stephen Underwood
Acts 20:24
www.stephenunderwood.net

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Filed Under: Reaching, Teaching, Training, and Sending Tagged With: Discipleship, Leadership, Praise, Worship

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