- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 18,404
Times of testing
'UNTIL THE TIME CAME TO FULFILL HIS WORD, THE LORD TESTED JOSEPH'S CHARACTER.' PSALM 105:19
It's hard to watch God blessing other people while you're struggling to get by but before you throw a strop and say 'it's so unfair!' remember, it's just God's calendar, your time will come. We've mentioned Joseph quite a few times in this edition and once again his story is so relevant. His faith was tested by the massive promises God gave him. You can almost hear the voices in his head whispering: 'I thought your dream said you were supposed to be sitting on a throne. What are you doing sat here in prison then? God doesn't care about you.' Joseph never gave in to negativity. He held on to those dreams. He knew God doesn't change His mind, so he made sure he didn't change his!
When you follow where God leads you can find yourself in the weirdest places, places that don't always seem like they are going to be good places but there's always a reason. God told the prophet Elijah to go and hide himself in a dusty ravine by a brook where his only friends were birds (1 Kings 17:3).
Only later was the importance of this time revealed. This time hidden away with God focused him on the challenge ahead, defeating a twisted queen and her evil priests. Listen: 'The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right' (Psalm 84:11 NLT). His delays are not denials. He's never said anything He couldn't back up or promised anything He wouldn't deliver. So try thinking a bit less about your surroundings and a bit more about the Word God has given you!
written by Bob Gass
'UNTIL THE TIME CAME TO FULFILL HIS WORD, THE LORD TESTED JOSEPH'S CHARACTER.' PSALM 105:19
It's hard to watch God blessing other people while you're struggling to get by but before you throw a strop and say 'it's so unfair!' remember, it's just God's calendar, your time will come. We've mentioned Joseph quite a few times in this edition and once again his story is so relevant. His faith was tested by the massive promises God gave him. You can almost hear the voices in his head whispering: 'I thought your dream said you were supposed to be sitting on a throne. What are you doing sat here in prison then? God doesn't care about you.' Joseph never gave in to negativity. He held on to those dreams. He knew God doesn't change His mind, so he made sure he didn't change his!
When you follow where God leads you can find yourself in the weirdest places, places that don't always seem like they are going to be good places but there's always a reason. God told the prophet Elijah to go and hide himself in a dusty ravine by a brook where his only friends were birds (1 Kings 17:3).
Only later was the importance of this time revealed. This time hidden away with God focused him on the challenge ahead, defeating a twisted queen and her evil priests. Listen: 'The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right' (Psalm 84:11 NLT). His delays are not denials. He's never said anything He couldn't back up or promised anything He wouldn't deliver. So try thinking a bit less about your surroundings and a bit more about the Word God has given you!
written by Bob Gass
