- Joseph was a means to accomplishing God’s greater goal
- He didn’t “cash in” on God’s good graces and understood there was a purpose beyond him and his fate
- We don’t like to wait for anything in our society
- Whether it’s a line or ads, or something more like the right spouse or for God to grow us past our issues
- Joseph had to wait 13 years in a sad environment of suffering. That is a long time. What would we do?
- We feel sorry for ourselves and take a victim mentality
- How we respond can be the difference between a strong and weak witness. Joseph was strong, witnessed strongly, and even thrived under it all
- Joseph is not really seen having any moment of weakness, not even after more than a decade. Not even Abraham held this firmly in faith
- We respond differently if we don’t actually believe that God’s timing and plan is good
- We need a narrative that God’s timing is better than ours–and that our plans pale in comparison to His
- Titus 2
- Joseph operated productively within the space God gave him–whether he was a prisoner, a servant, or almost a king
- If Joseph submitted to his emo alter-ego, we would have a very different or diluted narrative which would clearly help less with our own relationship with God
- Genesis 39-40
- Deuteronomy 21:6, Hebrews 5:5
- Joseph got his strength from the Word and revelation of God. Can we say the same? Does God’s truth carry us through?
- James 1, Romans 5, Hebrews 12
- Positivity and “good vibes theology” does not provide the strength needed for a productive life in hard times, especially unto the glory of God
- We honor God when we recognize that we’re exactly where He wants us, and we do right along the way
QUESTIONS:
- WHAT ATTITUDE AND ACTIONS DO YOU TAKE IN A SEASON OF WAITING?
- WHAT TRUTH ENCOURAGES YOU WHEN YOU ENDURE SOME DIFFICULTY?
- HOW IS GOD GROWING YOU NOW TO BE USEFUL LATER IN LIFE? CAN YOU TAKE THAT AND APPRECIATE IT FOR WHAT IT IS?
