Was reading some articles (Anchors In The Storm by Joe Stowell, Discovery Series) and there was this part that I find quite profound la...
"If you ever get really disappointed or discouraged, read the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50. Betrayed by the people closest to him, his own family, he was sold into Egypt as a slave. Rising to a place of influence in Potiphar's house, Joseph daily faced Potiphar's wife's efforts to seduce him.
The Egyptians prided themselves on having beautiful, sensual wives. Potiphar, being one of the leading bureaucrats in the land, no doubt had a wife who was rather spctacular. He was off on business much of the time, so she was probably lonely. Joseph, who was young and strong, was running the household every day. One day, she grabs him, and he runs. God looks down on Joseph and says, "Joseph, nice going. You're My kind of man!" Bt he gets 3 years in the slammer. For 3 years, nobody remembers him. (In those years God may have been extracting the arrogance from his life.)"
When I was reading this part, I paused and kinda reflected on my life. Somehow I felt that this speaks much to me, I believe some of you also. Sometimes, we felt that we know everything and we have everything in control (especially when things are going smooth), then something happened that struck us down, and when we call out to God, there's no answer, not even a sign. What should we do then? What I normally would do is to reflect back on the things that has happened, identify the areas that I'm weak, and response to God in prayer that I'm weak and I have been arrogant. I realise that I know nothing, even when I think that I know everything. I would ask God to teach me, how to be humble and in everything I do, I should refer to Him first, and not men, not the people around me.
Sometimes God allows problems and circumstances to happen in our life in order to break us and to mold us. Maybe you have problems with your best friend, your boyfriend/girlfriend, your parents, your lecturers, maybe you have just broke up, did something terrible, etc... Know that all these things happen for a reason and that God allowed it to happen, in order to break you, mold you and to shape your character, to be who He wants you to be.
You might think that you are not able to go through it but let me tell you that you are able, because it is written in 1 Corinthians 10:13 -
"And God is faithful; He willl not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." - and also 2 Corinthians 12:9 -
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." - So, hang in there, and know that whatever circumstances that you're in, God will be able to deliver you. Nothing is too hard for God (Gen 18:14 -
Is anything too hard for the Lord?).
So hang in there. After God breaks Joseph, what did God did? Read on...
"Then, in His time, God delivers Joseph and elevates him to the second highest position in the empire."
Be blessed. :)