This Can’t Be It

Did you know that dead ends are the perfect place for new beginnings in Jesus Christ - Steven Furtick

Life is not always what it seems. We can get good news one day and be on top of the world and feel like we could stay there forever. Then the sad news comes in the next day that knocks you off your feet. Now you’re wondering what happened. This can’t be it. Will this be forever? Let’s talk about Joseph from the Bible who had a great life. He was his dad’s favorite child. He was having dreams of how blessed he would be. Everyone would bow before him. He was seventeen and feeling good. But then came his “next day” moment. Suddenly his brothers sell him into slavery. I’m sure his mind must have been all over the place wondering how I got here. I’m at the bottom of the list as a slave. Who bows to me here? But it perks up a bit. His owner favors him. He is treated well and is blessed. It’s not too bad. I can handle this. Then it’s the “next day”. He is falsely accused of rape and thrown in jail. I would have been thinking “seriously God? I have done everything right. I work hard.  I treat people with respect. I didn’t even commit the crime I am accused of. Yet now I am in jail.” What an awful moment to be in. From bad to worse. Will this be forever? 

Even in the prison cell God’s favor was still shown through. He had the favor of the prison warden. Joseph was soon in charge of everyone in prison. Everything he did was blessed. I want to pause and think about this for a second. Joseph has been put through the storm twice. It’s devastating and traumatic.

But through the storm he is blessed.

He is favored. God takes care of him. Do you see the blessings that come your way in your storm? Do you see God walking with you in your hardship? It could be things like food on your table everyday or a job that still pays you well or a car that takes you where you need. Or even just having your health and breath in your lungs. Keep an eye out for these blessings. It can help ease the time in the storm. 

There’s another thing that happened to Joseph though in the prison cell. He discovered his gift of dream interpretation. He came across the King’s cupbearer and baker who were put under his care and they both had dreams the same night. I will say there are no such things as coincidences. Everything happens for a reason. He was in the right place at the right time. The combination of pressure and hardship push Joseph to find his gift.

Sometimes our storm is getting us to our purpose.

He came out of that jail cell a different person. But while he is going through it, he can’t see what’s happening. Because in his sight he hoped the cupbearer would help tell the King about him and he would be free. The “next day” arrived. Imagine his disappointment when days go by and weeks and months and still nothing. Is this it? Will I be here forever? It was two full years before the cupbearer finally mentioned him. Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold. He was 30 years old before he finally entered the service of the king. He was in his late 30s when his dream came true.

Joseph was given a dream. But it was the journey to the dream that was important. He grew wiser and found his gifts. It didn’t seem like it was on track at all. Everything was going wrong. But that’s why we need to trust God through it all. We don’t understand what’s happening. But it all has its purpose. You will get to your dream. This is not it.