The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Friday
January 25, 2008
Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was brought hastily from the dungeon.
After a quick shave and change of clothes, he went in and stood in Pharaoh's
presence.
"I had a dream last night," Pharaoh told him, "and none of these
men can tell me what it means. But I have heard that you can interpret dreams,
and that is why I have called for you."
"It is beyond my power to do this,"
Joseph replied. "But God will tell you what it means and will set you at ease."
Genesis 41:14-16
The dreamer of dreams becomes the interpreter of dreams and a great encouragement and blessing through his storms. When life gave Joseph lemons he indeed made lemonade. He is a great example of learning to roll with the punches. On top of that, he recognized that any ability he had came directly from the God he loved.
We cannot imagine the frustration Joseph faced. Okay, some of us may have been cast out of our families for one reason or another, but how many of us were dumped into a well, pulled out, and then sold to some passers by? That's what I thought ¾ not many! However, no matter what he went through, I believe the Spirit of God continued to feed Joseph the reminder of a dream he had as a little boy. He didn't give up. He knew that God was the dream giver and that if he just continued to do the right thing wherever he was God would bring him through; and He did.
When God first began planting the seeds in me for this ministry I was naïve. I thought everything would happen immediately. I wasn't quite as insightful as Joseph. I wanted everything to happen then and there. However, God let me fall into an emotional well, get pulled out, and then get caught up with some passers by. Even in the midst of all of my struggles, the vision stayed with me. He continued to feed little glimpses of hope through even the darkest times.
Although the ministry has seen glory days and days of stillness, I hold onto the vision God gave me. I still believe one day those things will come to pass. Yes, there are days I want to just give it all up, but that seed remains in me and I simply cannot – He won't let me.
Several years back, The Church at Brook Hills made a praise and worship CD. My favorite song on the CD was "I'm Amazed." On a Wednesday night several years ago, when I went to see two of my grandchildren in their musical, I ran into a girl I was in a hand-bell class with at Samford. It just so happened she was the voice on that CD singing that song. Now, I have the accompaniment tape ¾ a special gift. See, I am learning, like Joseph, that obedience is bliss. Being in the right place, at the right time, definitely has its advantages.
Father, I again thank You and praise You for how You go before us and use even the struggles we go through to show Yourself to us and provide special blessings for us. Thank You for the ministry of the life of Joseph and the encouragement that brings. Thank you for lemonade!
