Do you ever feel like your days are filled with one
messy relationship and situation after another?
During “messy” seasons, it’s easy for me to label my circumstances and myself as “a mess” and then wonder how God could ever use me, or my experiences, for good.
To protect my heart from discouragement, I often ask God to remind me of times when He has worked in ways I couldn’t have imagined, in my life and the lives of others. Recently He reminded me of Joseph’s story (Genesis 37-50). It reads like a series of very unfortunate events!
Imagine being beaten and thrown into a pit, sold as a slave and then relocated to a foreign country where you are falsely accused of a crime you didn’t commit and banished to die in prison. And to make matters worse, what if your siblings had initiated this evil against you?
That’s only the beginning of what happened to Joseph.
Looking behind the scenes of stories like his helps me see how God specializes in using messes to transform people into masterpieces of His grace. That’s exactly what He did here:
“[Joseph’s brothers] saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him … they stripped him of his robe … and they threw him into a pit” (Genesis 37:18, 23b–24, ESV).
Joseph was then taken to Egypt where he was sold as a slave to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. Could things get worse? They did when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, and despite Joseph resisting her advances, she accused him of attempting to rape her:
” … she called to the men of her household and said to them, ‘See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.’”
“As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him … his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison …” (Genesis 39:14-15, 19-20a).
In Potiphar’s house, Joseph learned servant leadership and integrity; in prison, Joseph learned forgiveness, wisdom and patience. He had been wronged multiple times, yet he experienced God’s guidance through the darkness that helped Joseph get out of prison:
“And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. … And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed” (Genesis 39:22-23, ESV).
In a messy pit, the house of Potiphar and a cold dark prison, God prepared Joseph for the amazing future and role he would play in rescuing God’s people and eventually bringing his family back together.
Through it all, Joseph stayed close to God and allowed his difficult circumstances to make him more dependent on the Lord. And in turn, God molded Joseph’s character into a great and godly leader — who was humble, loving, forgiving, patient and wise.
Friend, if you are feeling like you’re in a pit right now just like Joseph was, I want to encourage you: don’t despise the mess you’re in. As you surrender to Him and seek Him with all your heart, God will do behind-the-scenes work ~ as He prepares to unleash His limitless power in and through you!
Dear Lord, thank You for reminding me that You are always with me, just like You were with Joseph. When I face hard circumstances, I want to lean in and depend on You for wisdom, patience and grace. In all these things, I will remember that I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Are you ready to live beyond the limits of your circumstances, fears, negative labels and regrets? If so, join our next Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Study featuring the book, Limitless Life: You are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future.
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Thank you Rene for this Blessed message. I am there right now. But for the grace of GOD. Amen.
Very encouraging! Thanks heaps. The messiness of life!
Blessed in my mess…………thank goodness because my life has been a series of messes. Normally I make that mess when I move away from God. Thank goodness God is so faithful and loves me regardless of my messes. I need encouragement to walk with God every second of the day.
One more thing! Regarding previous note from
Tina
May 26, 2014
Tina,
Your reply is exactly what I am going through! I’ll pray for you and you pray for me? : )
Love,
Joy ( learning to let go # 2)
God’s timing for me to read your devotional is perfect. I believe with all my heart that God’s watching over me. So, why do I allow negative thoughts to snowball into a doubtful mindset?
A sound mind is my goal. I pray for my past to remain in the past. Instead, I allow it’s criticism to seap threw the cracks my childhood’s emotional and mental abuse from my Mom. I am now 39 years old. I want to pray with a stronger conviction to ask Jesus to rid me of my anger. I am a stronger person thanks to all adversities I experienced according to God ‘s plan. I love God because He is our Father who sent His only son to die for every sin committed.
My favorite verse in the Bible is
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Love, Joy
I’m not sure when my life doesn’t feel like a mess. Good to know that just because my circumstances are messy that it doesn’t mean that I’m a mess!
It feels so difficult to try and see beyond the mess or oppression you are in… Although I realize I am not in spiritual oppression! I thank God for being there when I am ready. Lord speak to me today, in a very personal way…..
Thanks for reminding us that God is with us and can be working in us while we are in the pit, when we are willing to turn things over to Him.
I am not the labels of my past, present or future
I am a child of God!
I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me & that means to me He remove labels, shame, fear all the things that are not of Him.
Thank you for this post
Blessings unto you all
oops Thanks Renee.
Praise the Lord for his ever ending mercy for his children he knows what im going thru and i believe that he is continue to do the work of perfection in my life all i have to do is to let go and let GOD do it for me.Thank You Mary.
After a day like today, I needed this encouraging voice of wisdom. God is here. Thank you, Renee
Through the pain, through the disappointment, be quiet. Don’t dig up your seed with words that don’t align with your faith. Choose praise. Remember our words are a creative force. In the moment of pain and disappointment don’t allow your words to take you where you really don’t want to go. Be still in a place of praise and allow God to move.
“Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.” (Jeremiah 1:12 Amplified)
Trust. Focus. Believe. God is working. He has not forgotten you.
“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 Amplified)
Lessons Learned in the Key of My Life!
Be Encouraged!
Whew! This is right where I’m at. Thanks for the encouragement and reminder of a light at the end of the tunnel. The Lord has certainly been molding & preparing me for a new journey. Every now and then, panic will start to set in, but thankfully the Holy Spirit lives in me and redirects me to Jesus.
What a great God we have! His call is for us to follow and be obedient to him. But when our lives are a mess and we no longer have the will or desire he picks us up and carries us. He will never forsake us rather he walks through the mess and storm. How great is our God?!
This is a great reminder to trust in the Lord. I am looking forward to this Bible study!!! Thanks for the chance to win.
I really needed to read this today. Right now I am in a transition in my life and feel like there is just pure chaos. Thank you for posting and the reminder that God uses us as we are.
I needed to be reminded of Joseph and what God did in his life. My family has just moved for his company but in the midst of the move, we have felt the bait and switch. It is very painful to watch as hubby seeks to find his place in a growing company that changes with every turn, being stripped of opportunities, with no integrity, honesty or direction in communications of what used to be a company foundation built on Christ, now is ebbing towards Profit before God. I am also seeking to gain back what was lost in my journey of raising an autistic son (now 14). So much of myself has gone into advocating for his needs, but now I need to earn an income within the confines his school schedule…he is too old for a sitter, yet too immature to stay at home on his own due to anxiety and panic attacks. God has provided so much and I am Grateful! Now is the time to gain my Confidence back – looking forward to the study! Thank you much.
Thank you for the powerful words of encouragement . So fitting in so many ways.