3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. These scriptures tell us that God is perfecting us so we will lack nothing. When we go through trials or tests, it doesn't mean God is angry with or that He is not with us. He promised in Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." God was with Joseph before his brothers sold him into slavery. God was with him when his brothers sold him as a slave in Egypt. Genesis 39:2-3 (NKJV) 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. God was with him when Pharaohs' wife tried to seduce him and then when he wouldn't yield to her seduction she lied about him and falsely accused him of rape. God was with Joseph when Pharaoh had him thrown in prison because of his wife's false accusations against him. Genesis 39:21-23 (NKJV) 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.
23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph's authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper. The bible says in spite of all the things that had come against Joseph, he grew in God's blessings and favor. It also says that whatever Joseph did, God made him to prosper.
All Joseph's trials and tests were to prepare him for what God had in store for him. While Joseph was in prison, Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. Pharaoh was told that Joseph would be able to interpret his dream, so Pharaoh sent for Joseph and Joseph told Pharaoh what his dream meant. There would be seven years of plenty and seven years of leanness. Joseph told Pharaoh how to make it through the seven years of leanness by storing up all they could during the seven good years. When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream and then gave him the solution to his problem, Pharaoh exalted him to the position next to Pharaoh himself. Genesis 41:41-44 (NKJV) 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
43 And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, "Bow the knee!" So he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."
43 And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, "Bow the knee!" So he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."
Then when the seven years of leanness hit the land of Egypt, the land of Israel was also in much leanness. Joseph's father Jacob heard of the grain that was in Egypt, he sent his son's to buy some grain. Genesis 42:1-3 (NKJV) 1 When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?" 2 And he said, "Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die." 3 So Joseph's ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. Joseph became instrumental in preserving the nation of Israel that would in time produce the Messiah Jesus Christ. All Joseph went through was not an absence of God's presence,but it was God working in and through all the bad that happened to Joseph to accomplish His will. Genesis 45:4-8 (NKJV)
4 And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
4 And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
Are you willing to allow God to work in your bad situation to turn it to good? Instead of blaming God for your problems, see them as a tool God is using to get you to the place He wants you to be. Will you be faithful to God as Joseph was when you can't understand what God is doing? God has promised us a hope and a future of His blessings and peace. Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Know that there will be times of difficulties, but God is working to make you and I more like His Son Jesus. Romans 8:29 (NKJV) 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
True success and victory requires forsaking our expectations of what God should do and be so we can live with adoration and trust in God through all we are allowed to face. Remember what King David said about God said in Psalms 23:4 (NKJV) 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 23:5-6 (NKJV) 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. You are promised the victory over our enemies in verse 5. In verse 6 God promises that goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of our life and you will dwell (live) in God's house forever. We are more than conquers through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 (NKJV)
37 Yet in all these things, (that we go through on this earth), we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hallelujah! Thank You God!
True success and victory requires forsaking our expectations of what God should do and be so we can live with adoration and trust in God through all we are allowed to face. Remember what King David said about God said in Psalms 23:4 (NKJV) 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 23:5-6 (NKJV) 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. You are promised the victory over our enemies in verse 5. In verse 6 God promises that goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of our life and you will dwell (live) in God's house forever. We are more than conquers through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 (NKJV)
37 Yet in all these things, (that we go through on this earth), we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hallelujah! Thank You God!
If you have never asked Jesus to forgive your sins against God and if you have never invited Him into your life, now is the perfect time to do that. 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV) 2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Then all God promised in His word will be yours. As that scripture says, you will never be separated from God's love for you which you have in Jesus Christ. You will be the victor in this life and the life to come. God will keep you till you go to be with Him in heaven. I pray God's blessings on all who have taken the time to read this article. May He bless you and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and bring you peace in Jesus' name. Amen! So be it!
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