We can create our own negative cycles through the way that we think. We can begin to expect negative as a norm after experiencing negative for so long. We have to intentionally shift our thinking to be bold in knowing that God is for us and that he allows situations in our lives to prepare us for the good that he has for us.
This happened with Joseph, who was sold into slavery, mocked, ridiculed, lied on, and treated poorly by his own family as well as others he’d trusted. However, God is clearly seen working in the middle of Joseph’s situation. He used everything to position Joseph for his purpose.
Joseph had been strategically positioned to interpret Pharoah’s dream placing him immediately in a position of authority, securing his wife given to him from the Pharoah who’s dream he’d interpreted. This led to his children and the revelations by God of him being able to forget his suffering, and become double fruitful. Finally, it reunited him with his father, brothers, and their extended family. God’s plan is always far more than what we can see and realize. We just have to trust him along the way.
My late pastor, Dr. Angie Ray, used to always say, “God will create a situation to bless you.” This is just what God did with Joseph. We know the story. He interpreted the dream of the Pharoah, who promoted him right afterward. On the outside looking in, we can easily praise God and shout about the ending, but Joseph was not aware of the ending altogether while he was going through it. Sure, he saw bits and pieces in a dream God had given him as a child, but he did not have the full interpretation until later. He had to walk by faith through it all. It was a painful experience for him. It is the same way with us. God will show us bits and pieces of what he is doing–giving us enough strength to go on continuing in hope.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. – 2 Corinthians 13:9-12
Joseph had his first child. He named him Manasseh meaning causing to forget. Joseph said just after naming his son Manasseh, “For God said he has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s house. There had been pain over his situation with his family that God was allowing him to forget. However, God is not just a God who makes us forget our pain, but he also brings restoration regarding what has been broken causing our pain. We will discuss this next week.
Joseph had a second son whom he named Ephraim. Ephraim means double or doubly fruitful. Do you remember after Job went through his pain, he was blessed with double? I believe God loves us so much that he gives us reminders that he is still with us and for us even in spite of experiencing much trouble. Real-talk, we can easily forget that God is good in trouble, but trouble is where we see God’s faithfulness the most.
I’m writing this post to encourage us, as many of us have gone through hard times, or maybe some of us are still in hard times right now. Things will not always be like what we’ve experienced. There will come a time of forgetting our pain and trouble. There will come a time of fruitfulness and restoration. There will come a time where we are double or even triple blessed. We have to keep believing that God is good and that he has good for us.
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