I think the hardest part of walking with the Lord, is trusting Him when we are in pain or when we are painfully lonely. I don’t care who you are; it is hard to feel holy when you’re in pain. Most often you don’t want to trust God, you just want Him to make the pain go away.
I am guilty of laying in my closet sobbing uncontrollably while declaring a poor pitiful me song to the Lord, asking the normal questions, why me, why this. I believe Psalms 27 is a tear stained in my bible for sure.
“Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me” (Psalms 27:7)
One of my most favorite story’s to run to in the word when I need to be reminded of the good God is working in my pain is the story of Joseph. Betrayed by his brothers, in slaved in Egypt, slandered but pure servant and imprisoned for years, yet it says four times “The Lord was with Him.” Joseph didn’t lay down and pout because he KNEW he wasn’t walking alone. He didn’t focus on the outward appearance but rather on what God was doing through it. He knew God had a plan, and indeed HE did. Remember those promises God made to Abram? We’ll pay attention because he was about to keep HIS word.
“Now do not be distressed or be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve LIFE.”(Genesis 45:5)
“And God sent me before you to preserve for YOU a remnant on earth and keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Genesis 45:7)
Did you hear it?His brothers may have SOLD him, but GOD SENT him!
Do you know why this is encouraging to me in my deepest pain? Because I know that I am here for a reason; not because of the sin committed against me, but because God has a greater purpose for my life. I can rest assured that God has not over looked a single detail of my life, and in fact HE is orchestrating ALL things according to HIS perfect will. Of course we are all still responsible for our behavior and actions, but God is working behind the scenes to bring us to the right place, at the right time; God has this thing reigned! Josephs suffering was meant to place him in a position to persevere life and survive the line of Abraham as promised by God.
So when we ask God why are you doing this in my life? The answer may actually point to what he is doing in someone else’s life that you have no idea about. What GOD is doing in your life may be the foundation for what HE is doing in someone else’s life.
“For whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the WILL OF GOD.” (1 Peter 4:1-2)
So now when I’m tempted to crawl in my closet and I feel as salt has been poured on my wounds. I can stand tall and breathe deep, because sisters hear me. God is using YOU and ME to bring LIFE!
The same God who walked with Joseph is walking with you!
“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” (Genesis 50:20)
Building strong marriages together,
Ashley Ladd
Amen, Ashley!! God sent him!! LOVE this post!!!!!
Thank you Cherie:) when God spoke this to my heart as I read all I could do was smile 🙂 He is so good!
Amen! I love the story of Joseph and how God used all the trials to set him up for saving lives,specifically his family. Thank you for sharing,Ashley!
The pleasure is all mine 🙂