Promotion or Punishment
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
The pathway to God’s promises are never as we envision. I consider Joseph’s excitement as he shared his dream, and how he likely thought it would be fulfilled. I doubt his plans included betrayal, a pit, slavery, slander, prison and separation from his entire family. He never imagined that what looked like punishment was necessary for his promotion. Just because the journey has hard parts, doesn’t mean God had failed to be faithful. Often, it’s His love for us that included the unplanned parts of life. I truly believe God was doing a refining work in Joseph. Had God simply handed Joseph position and power without pain the story of redemption may have had a different ending. The pain developed character and compassion, it filtered his motives and forced him to choose who he would serve when things weren’t going well. It cultivated wisdom and patience and most certainly strength and endurance. Nothing came easy because the treasure the Lord had waiting was also an incredible responsibility. So don’t lose heart if promotion feels like punishment and the promise, you’re holding onto doesn’t seem anywhere in sight. He who promised is faithful, but it will be Him, not us who surely does it. The process makes us aware of who the glory goes to as it prepares us so we rightly handle the reward.
Pastor Natalie Snider
Comments