Genesis 41:1 “And it came to pass at the end of two full years…”
Over the last week, our pastor has been preaching on the subject of “Frustration.” As we look at the life of Joseph, we can clearly see that he had a right, and would even be justified in our minds to be angry and frustrated at his circumstances.
If we take into account what he went through, we ourselves would too be very frustrated!
1) He was hated by his brothers.
2) He was held captive by them and tossed into a pit.
3) He was plotted against to be murdered by his brothers.
4) He was stolen away from his people.
5) Sold into slavery.
6) Lied about and falsely imprisoned.
7) While imprisoned, he was forgotten by the butler.
And we come to the first verse of chapter 41, the Bible says; “and it came to pass at the end of two full years…”
The question our pastor brought to mind and one that continues to weigh on me is; what must Joseph had thought, fought, and endured during those two full years? What loneliness? What hardship? What anxiety did Joseph face during this time that the Bible doesn’t account for?
You see, for you and I; this very time of hardship and turmoil might have been the breaking point. We might have given up; we might have quit. In times of hardship in my own life, I want God to produce results immediately. When He doesn’t; frustration sets in, then anger, and doubt; until finally, we throw our hands up and say “I quit!”
A quote from Bro. Tony’s message I wrote down was this. “The question is not what will it take for you to live the Christian life; but what will it take for you to quit living the Christian life?!” When trials come, and hardships arise; will it break you? Or will you allow God to use these times of turmoil to mold you and make you into a vessel that He can use?
“In the midst of hardship, do you focus on the situation? Or do you see the hand of God desiring to work in your life?” – Bro. Tony Howeth
In the life of Joseph, what if he had only focused on himself? What if he hadn’t had noticed that the baker and the butler were sad? What if he hadn’t listened to their dreams, their worries? The answer is simple: he wouldn’t had been remembered two years later when Pharaoh had a dream! Isn’t it amazing that because Joseph focused on the lives of others, that he went from the kitchen staff in a prison, to literally saving the world as second in command only to Pharaoh!
Keep this in mind throughout the storms of you life; when our focus is on others, and we are dedicated to serving others, the Lord, in His omnipotence will help us through our own! It has been said that, “life is 10% of what happens to you, and 90% of how you react.” Make a decision today, that God can and will use your life, no matter the storm, no matter the cost!
“So much of what we worry about hasn’t even happened yet!” – Bro. Tony Howeth
Will you be a vessel that God can use? Will you focus, not on yourself, your situation, your troubles; but focus rather of the lives of others? Let God work in you that when He needs to save the world, you are a tool that He can use for His glory!
Stephen Underwood
Acts 20:24
www.stephenunderwood.net
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