Last year for my momma’s birthday, all she wanted was a fig tree. Of course, I got her one, and Keith planted it. Her house has sold, so I had Keith transplant the tree to my house. When he brought the tree, it was beautiful, but just hours after he replanted it, the leaves began to wither. Some leaves dropped; some just crumbled. I watched for days thinking it couldn’t have died. Keith even texted me and said, “the Fig Tree!” We were both distraught, but we knew that if a plant suffers from a significant change in the environment, this will happen.
When I started thinking about this, I thought this same thing could happen to us. We can go through a significant change and have an extreme response. But I am reminded of how I should have patience and trust and remember how God uses everything for good.
Saturday, I listened to the First5 app, and Lysa Terkeurst taught a lesson about Joseph.
(Genesis 37) Joseph was the youngest son of Jacob. You probably know the story but let me run through it. Jacob was very confident, and he was also the favorite son. His older brothers couldn’t stand this. Joseph’s personality was unbearable for his brothers. They didn’t like him at all. It didn’t help that Jacob had a dream that he would rule over his brothers, and they were going to bow down to him. It is one thing for him to dream that, but he told them. After this, the brothers sold Joseph into slavery, and they told their father, Jacob, that he died.
Keep going through the story in scripture.
Joseph was sold to Potiphar, and Potiphar had Joseph help take care of his home. Everything was going well until Potiphar’s wife noticed Joseph. She then accused Joseph of making a move on her, so Potiphar threw Joseph in prison.
During all of this, the Lord was with Joseph. When he was back in prison, the warden noticed him and put him in charge of all other prisoners.
Keep going through Joseph’s story. Joseph interpreted a dream for Pharaoh; then, Pharaoh placed him in charge of Egypt’s whole land. WOW!
Joseph’s brothers had intended to harm him, but God intended it for good. God was with Joseph at all times. When he was thrown into the cistern, he was with him, when he was sold into slavery when he was thrown into prison; God was there. For 13 years, Joseph went from one situation to the next.
But during these 13 years, Joseph was learning and acquiring the attributes to be a good leader. God had a plan, and he was using what they intended to harm for good.
His brothers intended to harm him, but God intended it for good.
We find this in scripture Genesis 50:20
Genesis 50:20
New International Version
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Yesterday Barrett and I worked in the yard, and Barrett noticed the dead-looking tree; the closer we got, I saw green. New buds were coming out of the stems. Barrett and I fed the tree and watered the tree pampering it hopefully back to new green lush leaves again. The fig tree was having a comeback, just like Joseph.
Momma’s fig tree and Joseph went through significant changes in environments much as we do sometimes; however, both ended in the good.
You may be going through something in your life, something that someone intended to harm, but God is with you.
You may feel you are outcast. You may feel you have been thrown into a cistern. You may feel you are in prison. You may feel you have been wrongly accused. You may be sad, your leaves may be drooping or withering, BUT just like Joseph, what intended to harm works for good.
We must trust God enough and wait patiently for Him to bring good out of a bad situation.
CHALLENGES OF THE WEEK
• Keep your daily appointment
• Dive deep into the word
• Whatever goes on this week, remember it is all about trust, trusting that God uses situations for our good. Trust is essential.
• Fill your cup with Christ
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