When There's No One

Are your words falling on deaf ears? Do you seem to be invisible to people around you? No one there to pick up the mantle and run the next part of the course with you? No one seem interested in hearing what you have to say and no intention of following your suggestions?

One encouraging thought is knowing we are not traveling this road alone. Joseph traveled it long before we did and he was victorious. This guy was literally thrown away, left to die...by his own brothers! From being thrown in the cistern, sold into slavery, faced with sexual temptation, a victim of lies, thrown into jail and punished for doing the right thing, ignored and forgotten by those that benefited from his wisdom, and finally to Pharaoh's palace; he endured a lot of pain and frustration for several years before seeing any real substance come from all his efforts. During this time as God patiently worked on Joseph's pride issues, Joseph remained positive to those around him. And it won him great favor with God. In every single situation, God caused him to prosper in one way or another. Even though Joseph had not reached the divine place God had appointed for him, the Lord remained faithful to Joseph and blessed him everywhere he went.

How can we say God's not good to us? How dare we think such a thing! He has blessed us so much, we are spoiled. We think if life is hard in any manner, we have been forsaken. That is not the case. We are being tested. We are being refined for a greater day, an hour of divine appointment we've not yet reached. Sometimes I wonder if I'll EVER get there...feeling like I'm spinning my wheels in the same place. I imagine Joseph felt the same way too, but God wants warriors and warriors need training. SO WHAT if no one wants to listen. Joseph kept talking...he didn't stop advising. His personal integrity made the difference and when God finished chiseling that pride, he had just enough confidence to make the kind of decisions that would help an entire nation survive and prosper. Don't you imagine he had days when he felt like he had no one to lead, yet he knew from his childhood that he was born to do great things, to be a great leader. The dreams of his youth were not some silly fantasy. They were of a spiritual birth and a confirmation that God indeed had plans for this man's life.

For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(Jeremiah 29:11) God does have a plan for you. He might be on the last round of chiseling and about to turn you around so quick, all the heartache will become a blur. The hardships made Joseph a better man. I'm in the same boat with you in feeling like enough is enough with all the hardships, but if it leads me to be the person God intended, so be it. With Jesus I can take it, with Him I know I can stand. No matter what may come my way, my life is in your hands.