Dealing with Difficulties

5/19/2020

This is a breakout post from our 27-day devotional, Come and Gather: Family Time With God, or what we lovingly refer to as Gather. You'll find this post featured in Part Two: Days 6-10 A Walk Through God’s Word.

The theme we are looking at today is the providence of God and our text comes from Genesis chapters 45 and 50.

"And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt." Genesis 45:5-8

"When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, 'It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.' So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, 'Your father gave this command before he died: Say to Joseph, Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you. And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.' Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, 'Behold, we are your servants.' But Joseph said to them, 'Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.' Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them..” Genesis 50:15-21

Since his brothers sold Joseph into slavery he had been falsely accused, thrown into prison, and exalted to the second most powerful position in the land of Egypt.

As Joseph waited in prison for another two years God was working on his heart. At the appointed time in God’s plan Joseph was given an opportunity to serve Him and he did so by telling Pharaoh that the answer to dreams came only from God (Genesis 41:16).

Joseph had learned an important lesson. He realized God was giving him an opportunity to serve. As His brothers came to Egypt in search of food for their starving families, they met with their long-lost brother, Joseph. When his brothers stood before him, unaware that this ruler in Egypt was their brother, Joseph had the power to do with them as he desired. He had purged his heart of bitterness, anger and any other ill thoughts towards his brothers. God spared Joseph through the years of slavery and imprisonment for this single purpose— to save a fledgling nation from starvation and honor His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

No person can ever answer the question of why to the difficulties that often come into the lives of God’s children.

There is, however, one thing that is known— God never brings anything into the lives of his children that is not for their ultimate good. God brought Joseph through extreme difficulty and Joseph learned this valuable lesson and taught it to his brothers by his actions and his words. If a Christian is to live a life honoring and pleasing to God, he or she must realize this wonderful truth and adopt the attitude of Joseph and proclaim, God meant it for good.

Come and Gather: Family Time with God

Introducing Come and Gather: Family Time with God, or what we lovingly refer to as Gather.

Gather is a lovely, 35-page, daily devotional centered around families enjoying time together with God and each other.

This 27-day devotional is divided into 3 parts:

Part One: Days 1-5, is written specifically with husbands and wives in mind. In this part of Gather, husbands and wives will explore 5 Signs of a Functional Family.

5 Signs of a Functional Family includes:

Part Two: Days 6-20, is written with the whole family in mind. It's A Walk Through God’s Word. From Genesis to Revelation we will discuss subjects like God's mercy and protection, being humble, dealing with difficulties, having a teachable spirit, dependence on God, and much more.

Part Three: Days 21-27, is a Men of God Character Study. We'll learn character traits that every Christian should strive to demonstrate in their life straight from characters in God's Word.

At the end of Gather, you'll find a place for your family to record specific prayer requests. I love being specific with my prayer request and seeing God answer in specific ways. Recording the answers, as well as the requests, is a great way to help your children see God working in your lives.

Join the movement today and download Gather for free today!

Thanks for joining the InstaEncouragements weekly Christian link-up! We would really appreciate it if you would grab this IE link-up button, place it on your blog, and link back to this post. Thanks! Have an awesome week!

If you're new to link-ups, checkout our IE LINK-UP page for a brief explanation and a list of other link-ups to participate in.

How does Joseph's life story help you think differently about the difficulties you encounter?

Come and Gather: Family Time With God published with permission
Pastor Jeremy Sweatt, Farmington Avenue Baptist Church, West Hartford, Connecticut

25 Comments

Barbara Harper link

5/19/2020 09:10:33 am

Joseph's attitude is a rebuke to me. I think I would have chafed and wondered why it had to come about the way it did. I still tend to do that even though I know He has a purpose in all He allows.

Patsy Burnette link

5/19/2020 06:47:59 pm

You and me too, Barbara! Yes, it does seem like God could do things easier ways instead of the more difficult ways. But then would He get as much glory? We would get as much good out of it? Probably not. His ways are perfect.

Laurie link

5/19/2020 09:15:28 am

We must look for those opportunities God gives us to serve. Developing a servant's heart, like Jesus', is needed so we don't miss out on those opportunities. Great post, Patsy!

5/20/2020 06:58:30 pm

Totally agree, Laurie! I guess I never thought about Joseph's servant's heart. I think about his forgiving heart and patient heart, but as surely as those he certainly must of had a huge servant's heart! Great point!

Michele Morin link

5/19/2020 09:45:08 am

I am always challenged by Joseph's attitude and energy. My default is to peer anxiously into the unknown. His "God meant it for good" is an invitation to forgiveness and hope.

5/19/2020 06:51:23 pm

We are all peering anxiously into the unknown right now Michele. I love how you say, "God meant it for good" is an invitation to forgiveness and hope. That is beautiful!

Debbie Wilson link

5/19/2020 10:23:53 am

Joseph is one of my most favorite characters. His trust in God, honesty, and forgiveness challenge me. You book looks beautiful!

5/19/2020 06:54:48 pm

His life was challenging, and at the same time, it is written I believe to challenge us in our everyday walk with God.

Boma link

5/19/2020 11:44:39 am

May God help us trust Him like we should. Knowing nothing is ever out of His control can help us deal with the concerns that arise in difficult situations. Thanks for this reminder, Patsy. Many blessings to you!

5/19/2020 06:59:06 pm

Yes, Boma, we need to trust Him more—especially now! Knowing nothing is ever out of His control, like you say. Knowing everything is always in His control. We know. So why is it so difficult to trust? I ask myself this question over and over. I need these reminders too!

MAndy link

5/19/2020 02:56:42 pm

It is so important for us to realize that God goes through the difficulties with us and that He has a wonderful plan throught it all.

Thanks for joining the Legacy Linkup

5/19/2020 07:00:44 pm

Yes, Mandy! He never leaves us alone in the difficult times. That too is a comforting thought!

BettieG link

5/19/2020 09:08:06 pm

Joseph's words have been such a conviction to me. Especially as I realized that even towards the end of his life, he was still speaking the same words to his brothers. He understood God's character of goodness, but his brothers were still living in fear and bitterness. I long to live in that same trust of God's character. Thank you for this beautiful study of His Word.

5/20/2020 07:39:10 am

Bettie, his life and his words—so convicting!

Angela Johnson link

5/20/2020 11:48:22 am

"No person can ever answer the question of why to the difficulties that often come into the lives of God’s children." This statement is so true. We do not understand the difficulties but we need to see God's plan in all of it. Thank you so much for sharing!

5/20/2020 12:44:47 pm

I love that quote, Angela!

Sharla link

5/20/2020 02:08:21 pm

I love the story of Joseph! A great reminder to keep trusting God.

5/20/2020 07:00:05 pm

Yes, Sharia, even when life looks like it's not turning out the way we planned we must trust that God sees the bigger picture.

Calvonia Radford link

5/20/2020 03:41:21 pm

I often think of Joseph when things don't seem fair. When I recall his story, I refocus on God's orchestration. How he is strategically planning my life to get me to my purpose.

5/20/2020 07:01:47 pm

I LOVE THAT Calvonia —> "...God's orchestration. How he is strategically planning my life to get me to my purpose." :)

Lauren Renee Sparks link

5/20/2020 03:43:45 pm

God meant it for good. That's a hard thing to say in the midst of extreme circumstances, even though I know biblically it's true. Thank you for giving me this to ponder.

5/20/2020 07:05:44 pm

I think "God meant it for good" is something we only see in the end, not in the beginning and certainly not in the middle. We just have to have faith in the beginning and middle to know He means it for our good and His glory.

sue

5/20/2020 04:12:45 pm

One time my brother lost his job. It was a difficult year. He said he read the life of Joseph more than once. I believe it's a bestseller! xoxo

5/20/2020 07:08:36 pm

I love that, Sue. Joseph's story certainly should be a bestseller!

Maree dee link

5/23/2020 02:41:25 pm

Patsy - Thank you for the reminder that "God never brings anything into the lives of his children that is not for their ultimate good." You have no idea how I needed to hear those particular words this morning. I am struggling with something today and wanting to retreat to safety even though I know this is God's plan.

Maree

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