by David Brenneman
You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good...to preserve many people alive."
Genesis 50:20
There is an essential principle that can help us endure in our faith, and that is understanding that God Himself ultimately allows everything that happens to us. This is a difficult notion to accept, particularly in setbacks and painful trials, but it provides us with a perspective that always leads to triumph.
Consider Joseph who was sold into slavery as a teenager by his jealous brothers. He spent years in servitude in Potiphar's house and was then wrongly accused and imprisoned in an Egyptian jail. However, Joseph remained faithful all those years because He saw God at work, positioning him for greater service through all the betrayal and injustice. Sure enough, after more than a decade of suffering, the Lord miraculously delivered Joseph and made him second in command in the most powerful nation on earth.
Such is the awesome ability of our Savior- He works through the fallenness of this world to accomplish His purposes for us. So regardless of what happens--no matter how unfair or painful- remember God has allowed it for a good and holy purpose. Then, like Joseph, wait in expectant hope for Him to reveal His excellent plan to you.
Jesus, I am so grateful You have a good and holy purpose in all I endure, Amen.
But WHY? Why me? Why now? Why couldn't it...
My Dear Reader...those words or something like them...were on my mind in June of last year. I was flabbergasted. Literally beside myself. Of all things that I remember of that morning...I remember most every moment from being asked off the floor, to bring my company laptop, the meeting. Then the being escorted to my desk to get my personal things, my locker then the walk out the door after surrendering my badge. I almost felt like a zombie walking to my truck. None of what just happened made any sense. Those whom I trusted or thought I trusted were completely silent.
I knew in my heart, mind and soul that I had done nothing wrong but my gut told me this was the end regardless.
You too might have been through or are going through something similar. The truth might come out and it might still not make a difference.
For many months the verse in Proverbs, chapter 3, verses 5 and 6 were on my mind to write around in posts. Now I was needing to take it to heart more than ever. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.".
We aren't always going to know or be allowed to know what's going on in our lives in Christ. Joseph, Daniel, Job, others...they didn't get any idea in their lifetime for some and only a partial explanation for others.
It's not important or at least not as important as we think it should be. It's on us to trust and obey.
The truth will come out either in our lifetime or before Jesus in Heaven but the truth will be known when Jesus sees fit for it to be known.
I know that I obeyed the Spirit and that's what lead to my termination. It had nothing to do with breaking company policy or directions or instructions...it was deemed that I was wrongfully discharged. But it didn't change anything.
It's been something that is very scriptural that I adhere to in my work life. I will be working wherever God wants me only for as long as He wants and when it's time to go He will make it impossible for me to stay. Jobs, much like people, are often in your life only for a season.
If I wasn't saved, if Jesus wasn't my personal Lord and Savior, fear would have and should have gripped me. What a potentially terrifying thing to have happen to a person! Yet fear and terror wasn't there. God wasn't surprised. Whether or not the company agreed concerning my innocence or not God knew that I did nothing wrong. My God was right there in every step of the way. He brought to mind people to immediately call. He got them and others to immediately begin praying. He began providing immediately for our needs. Things like this give a person a new sense of understanding of Psalm 23.
So what about right now? I am as yet still unemployed. Likewise as promised Jesus is still bringing comfort to our hearts through this. Jesus is still providing in this the 3rd month after unemployment ran out. He still gives me things to do around the house and provides the means when an odd thing comes up that we weren't expecting. He's opened the hearts of many to help us through this. That's my God, my Savior and my Friend.
Some start down a dark and foreboding path of revenge scenarios. My Dear Reader never ever go there. Scripture says that vengeance belongs to the Lord. He will repay. Throughout my life I can bring to mind many many times when I was wronged and my Savior took care of those people in ways that I never thought possible. For me, I pray for those who persecuted me. I pray for salvation first of all and God's justice second of all. Then I get out of the way.
We shouldn't give in to fear when life takes a turn. The first temptation is to do that. Jesus said to be anxious for nothing. Don't worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough trouble of its own. He says that the very hairs of your head are all numbered. He says that we are more valuable than many sparrows. He says He loves us with an eternal love. He promised to meet our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. Maybe not our wants but certainly our needs.
There's days of highs and lows. Emotionally anyway. But there's a peace that passes all understanding in the midst of all of this. Day upon day there's evidence upon evidence of the love of God which He's poured out upon us. Indeed His grace and mercy are new everyday.
There will be an end to this unemployment thing because God never lets a storm rage forever. As Mark Lowry said in one of his videos his favorite verse, his life verse, is "It came to pass" it didn't come here to stay. This too shall pass.
There will be a day when I wake up to no more rejection letters, no more daily searches. There will be a day when all will know the truth. Some will rejoice, others will be put to shame. But in everything I know that God will be glorified.
God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Regardless of our viewpoint or vantage point God always wins.
Trees do not grow for decades without storms to cause the roots to go deep.
Adversity only lasts as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose for each of us.
Commit your plans to the Lord. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
He may make you lie down in green pastures. He may lead you through the valley of the shadow of death. Do not fear for His rod and His staff they are a comfort to you.
Joseph did nothing wrong and went to the school of hard knox to become the second highest ruler in Egypt. Daniel got to write of many of the wondrous things to come. Job went through much to bring about understanding in others of God's work and love.
You may not know the why's behind your adversity. That's ok. Keep on keeping on with setting your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. Keep on trusting God. Keep on with leaving any vengeance to the Lord to deal with. Pray for those who persecute you. Don't give up.
God always has the ability to make a way where no way seems possible. Remember your faith history. Read the faith history of others in your Bible.
God's not done with any of us.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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