Genesis 50:1 – Exodus 2:10; Matthew 16:13-17:9; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 5:1-6
It is undeniable that we go through challenging situations in life. Bad things do happen to good people. More often than not, when these bad things happen, or problems arise, we blame God for them as if he desires to bring trouble into our lives.
How do you handle the betrayals of life? How do you keep going when your heart has been broken? I want to introduce a simple principle today: The Law of New Meaning! While you cannot control the problems that arise in your life, you can control how you respond to them.
Joseph had immense power and could have wielded it to harm his brothers (after all they sure deserved it some would say). But, he was able to give new meaning to the trauma he endured. He acknowledged to his brothers that their intent was evil. But, thank God, their intent does not have the final word!
His brothers thought they could extinguish his dream. They didn’t realize that a God-given dream cannot die! Joseph reviewed the pain in light of the end of the story. Even though they meant to harm him, Joseph knew God was working out something far greater than he could have ever imagined. He gave his suffering new meaning.
What have you gone through? I know when you were going through it, you felt like the world was ending. But, now, you are on the other side of it: stronger, more mature in faith, have a greater commitment to the things of God, and still ready to see God’s dream for your life come to pass. They may have meant to harm you but through God’s love and His power, He turned it out for your good!
I am reminded of that old Gospel chorus, “If I never had a problem, I wouldn’t know that God could solve them. I wouldn’t know what faith in God could do.” Your problems are just opportunities for God to show you how powerful He is. Know that God is working your tragedies into triumphs!
Tomorrow’s Reading: Exodus 2:11-3:22; Matthew 17:10-27; Psalm 22:1-18; Proverbs 5:7-14