I am so excited to start with our
new series on the life of Joseph. God placed Joseph specifically on
my heart and I truly believe that it is because He wants to teach
us many lessons, especially now as we have all experienced so much
loss on different levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of us
lost our health, others lost loved ones, and others lost a whole
lot financially, whilst others lost so much time with loved ones as
well as doing what they loved to do. All of us lost something along
the way, even if it was just our freedom to be able to do things
when we want to do them and where we want to do them.
Joseph lost a whole lot too during
his lifetime. He lost his freedom, he lost his family, his
homeland, in fact everything he held dear and on a material level
he just had the clothes on his back. And later on he was even
thrown in jail for something that he didn't do. He literally had
nothing left and nowhere to go. I don't know about you, but I don't
know anyone who has literally lost everything. Everyone has lost
something, but no one has lost as much as Joseph. And as you all
know, once he hit rock bottom, there was only way to go and that
was UP. We will go through all the details in the coming weeks, but
for now I would like to start this series by motivating you that
God is by your side through all of this.
God never ever left Joseph's side.
However I can just imagine his emotions throughout his lifetime. He
must have wondered how God can allow his brothers to sell him as a
slave. He must have wondered on the road to Egypt if he will ever
survive this. He must have wondered where God was when he was
falsely accused by Potiphar's wife and sent to prison for something
he didn't do. He must have wondered where God was when he stayed in
prison for years, and the people that he helped in prison forgot
all about him. He must have been at a very low point there in
prison. Far away from everything and everyone he loved with no
future and no way of getting out. BUT GOD! God never left his side
and in the end in hindsight everything worked out just as it
should. Joseph learned lessons that he would never have learned in
other ways and he was placed in a position where he could be
exalted in a moment's notice. He was given a position of influence
where he could influence a whole nation. God had a plan and He was
with Joseph every step of the way.
Today God also has a plan for us.
He has a future and a hope for every one of us. He has led us
through this pandemic and has taught us so many things. I will
expand in future weeks on a couple of things that I have learned.
But God has been patient and kind. And I truly believe that He is
going to use all these things that we have learned for our benefit
in future. And not only our benefit, He is going to use us to help
others going through the same struggles. I know that our loss and
our pain will become our victory. He is going to use it in mighty
ways.
In any job interview you can be
sure that work experience counts a lot. People with experience in
certain areas, plus the qualification, will most certainly have a
great chance of getting the job. We all have the
qualification as children of God, and we are all busy getting
experience in many areas of our lives. And soon, we are going to be
unleashed in our specific jobs where we will make a huge difference
in many people's lives. I look forward to it, don't you?
Yes, we have lost much, but we have
gained experience and if we learn from that and move on, God will
use it for our good. I can't wait to see how He works it all for
our benefit and for the greater good of all.
Father thank you that our lives are
in Your hands. Even what we have lost, You will count it as gain
for us and use it to bring glory to Your Kingdom and Your Name.
Hallelujah, what a wonderful God we serve. Use us for Your glory!
Amen