I have always been fascinated with Joseph. Most of his adult life was not comfortable or easy. God had given him a dream, and yet most of his adult life for over 20 years looked completely opposite of what God had showed him. I am sure Joseph had a lot of moments where he thought, “We’ll, that’s not what I thought it would look like.” In the end, his dream DID come to pass…in God’s timing and in God’s way. What Joseph did in those “mundane” years where things looked bleak and opposite of the plan of God mattered.
Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character. (Psalms 105:19 NLT)
We don’t always understand why things happen the way they do or why we have to walk through some of the things we do….or why sometimes it just plain TAKES SO LONG!!! And we can get weary and be tempted to let go. But what we do during those mundane times and “opposite” times does matter! Even though we don’t understand and cannot see….it all fits somehow into His plan. He is molding us and shaping us and honing our gifts and callings…and yes, even testing our character.
If we do not manage those mundane seasons well, we will never fully step into all the dream is supposed to be.
If you are in a season of “we’ll, that’s not what I thought it would look like, take heart and trust the One who gave the dream. HE will bring it to pass, and things can change overnight. One day Joseph was in prison, and the next day he was second in command of the most powerful nation on the planet…because God opened door.
Sometimes we get discouraged and let go because we don’t see HOW things can change. We don’t see HOW it can happen. We don’t see HOW our dream will ever come to pass. I think Joseph was probably as shocked as everybody else that he went from prison to second in command overnight. It is not ours to figure it out. God is the master at turning things around and making a way where we cannot see one. It is ours to trust. And if we allow Him to do it in His time and His way, we will be able to say as Joseph did, “God did this, and it is beautiful! It is good!”
God has not forgotten you! Hold on tight to him. One day soon you will be able to step back and see the beautiful tapestry God is making of your life…ALL of your life. All those mundane moments and all those “well, that’s not what I thought it would look like moments” and all those things that you wished you had never had to walk through….you will be able to step back and see God’s hand in it all and see what a beautiful masterpiece it is when it is all woven together. He is a master artist, and He makes everything beautiful in its time. Trust Him. He will not let you down.
I leave you with these two scriptures to encourage your heart.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6 NLT)