The testing and trying of our faith
He sent a man before them— Joseph—who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the LORD tested him. Psalm 105:17-19
This scripture is about Joseph but doesn’t it sound like Jesus? They took His clothes. They cast them for lots, they stripped Him down, mocked Him, ridiculed Him, spit in His face, took turns beating Him, made Him carry His cross, and ultimately hung Him on it to die…. WHY????
But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ John 15:25
The world is dark and hates light, for it exposes their deeds. The wicked hates the good and so on…
Joseph had a dream of his brothers bowing down before him, and he being the youngest and probably not so wisely and prematurely at the time, told them this vision. They hated him for it. He was already the father’s favorite. He had his coat of many colors and man did the anger and fury begin to brew. Who did he think he was walking around sporting his coat and his dreams like he was really somebody. He was somebody and you are too! His most prized possession. We are His and His promises remain. Any one’s human nature wouldn’t have liked this either (just as Joseph’s brothers didn’t like it). BUT GOD. He had a plan before it even began. It would unfold just as He had planned.
If you read on in psalm 105, you’ll see not only was it God Who went before His people, setting up each and every detail to turn out for Joseph’s good - but that Joseph’s dream was also true. Sometimes it’s best to keep things to yourself but yet God will still come through. In this instance, it was to be this way so that Joseph could eventually get to the food supply. Not to only just get there, but to be over it all in order to save his people/God’s people. It was ultimately for their good and for his good too. But at first it didn’t feel like it.
Had Joseph not been sold out and thrown into prison, he possibly wouldn’t have been in this position. It was necessary to go through all of the steps in order to get here and even though he was in a foreign and distant land, it is at that very place that we would see the hand of God and His fulfilling of to the dream. We’d eventually see his brothers coming for food and bowing down to him. There was a famine in the land. Back up to verse 15. God already knew.. He already knows… just what you’re going through and to!
Moreover HE called for a famine in the land; HE destroyed all the provision of bread. Psalm 105:16
Yet there was a reserve, or a supply, that Joseph had stored up. He stored it up because he was wise and in tune with God, and he saw what was coming. It was all part of the plan from the beginning.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3
Joseph had a vision too. It seemed like it wasn’t going to come true but quite the opposite. He was sold out by his own family members. They made their dad believe that he was dead, so imagine how he felt when he found out years later that his son was alive! He was put through hell and back. He was moved up just to move back. 1 step forward, 2 steps back type of deal. He helped other people and it always seemed to backfire on him. They used him but forgot about their end of the bargain. He remained faithful and wasn’t a ‘woe is me’ type of guy - even though he couldn’t seem to catch a break. That is, UNTIL it was time. He kept being faithful through it all.
Remember??? The vision is for AN APPOINTED TIME. We don’t get to go to our appointments early, we go on time unless the doctor orders! It may seem like it is tarrying way to long and is taken it’s sweet precious time, but there’s a due date for everything. An expectation date if you will. An end that God has ALREADY decided and says when that is enough. It’s already been said. It’ll (that thing) will be cut off at this/that very moment in time. But, in the middle, Joseph was being tested.
No doubt and even tempted by the enemy through the others in this story. Yet, It all played out for his good.
His faith was growing stronger and that which really didn’t matter was falling off of him. He was becoming laser focused on what was truly important and what really mattered. We worry a lot about and over things that won’t last or matter, and that we cannot change. Guilty! The word says “it came to pass”, or as one preacher said “it came to pass, not to stay.” My mom use to always say, “this too shall pass.” And it does.
No doubt, the temporary things and pleasures of life were quickly dying and the eternal things were sticking. Day by day and step by step. Although at times it must have seemed like it wasn’t going to happen and at times Joseph surely felt hopeless and defeated. Though it must have seemed that he was only going further and further back. He was actually growing stronger and stronger, and wiser and wiser, for this particular position that he dreamed about and the very appointed time that God had already planned. It was drawing closer with each and every minute and day, and it was all coming together - slowly but surely. Had he not went through these trials, I doubt that he’d be the compassionate, strong and wise man that he was. I dare to say that he’d be a little haughty and quick to jump the gun like he was when he was a youngster. We should be growing up in our faith; not sliding back. Guilty again! Thank God for His loving patience and kindness.
God is not a man that He should lie. People will lie to you like they did Joseph. They’ll disappoint you and even tell you things but won’t always follow through. God never will. People are human but God is God. They’ll use and abuse you but God never will. Don’t be like them. Learn to be a man or woman of your word. Don’t quit doing good to them. Remain faithful even if they don’t. Do it as unto God and God will see you through.
If He said it, He will do it! He is God of covenant and promise. He is faithful to His own as I am reminded in this season. He is the same and does not change. It’s coming and it’s gonna happen in due time but not until then… wait and see. It will surely come: in the end. In the middle is where our faith is tried, tested and endures. It’s where the impurities are burned off and it hurts like hell before it feels good. But, it is where the good stuff sticks and our faith endures.
If you think God has forgotten about you, remember Joseph or consider Jesus. Nothing could be further from the truth. That’s a lie from the pits to make you give in. Don’t quit. Endure till the end or you don’t win the prize. Don’t grow weary in doing good as I’m reminded in a battle season of my own. We can encourage each other and should, and to be reminded in our trials that we aren’t alone. Don’t hold it all in and begin to think you’re the only one. Your story might just help another, -and so on.. The enemy wants us quiet, isolated and kept in the dark. Bring it to the light and watch the domino effect. The darkness and stagnancy is where bacteria grows.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Hebrews 12:3
Yet, it was all part of Gods plan from the beginning for Jesus to overcome. But first to be born, grow, die and experience death from all the pain, BUT THEN to be raised to new life. We were raised with Him and our sins and shame were buried with Him. He didn’t bring them back up. He left them in the grave and the tomb is empty. We are free to serve Him and we can trust Him. Because He overcame, so will we.
Good overcomes evil and light overcomes darkness. Every time. Don’t let the darkness change you or wear you down. Don’t give in. Look to the light. You reap IF you do not faint - until the end… Remember, that’s where it’s at! We can’t see it all in the beginning and it seems to get harder in the middle but He is there all along the way even if you don’t feel Him. He’s working it out. You’ll see and recognize it when you look back. He carried you and sustained you and was right there all along, every step of the way. Even now. This reminds me of the old pictures in the 90’s that were hanging in everyone’s house titled “Footprints in the sand”. He said that He’d never leave or forsake you and He meant it. The promise is just for you! He also loves you at your worst just as much as He does at your best. His love does not waver, neither should ours. But yet we are human and He already knew it all. Nothing surprises Him. He knew us before He formed us and formed us anyway. He knows our end from our very beginning.
Remember: the teacher is quietest in the test. Teachers talk and teach us all along life’s way as God is constantly teaching us. But when it’s testing time, the pressure is on. That’s what this is.
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21
Then you’ll have to listen and obey. Pass the test.
Although it seemed like a set up from the enemy, it was all set up by God. Read on to see all of the verses in Psalm 105 that says “HE” did this and “HE” did that. It was and is no surprise to God what you’re going through: He makes a way out or He makes a way through. He will deliver you but if He delivers us too prematurely from each trial, then we don’t fully birth what was coming, we don’t build our faith, or learn what we could have learned, that’s waiting on the other side of the trial. He is with us in the fire.
“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25 that good news! 🙌🏽
I’ll repeat verse 19:
UNTIL the time that his word came to pass, The word of the LORD tested him. PSALM 105:19
UNTIL THE TIME THAT what Joseph had dreamed had come to pass. The word of the Lord tested him in all of this in-between. First came the pit and then came the testing, but eventually came the promise. The promise is coming to you and had He not first gave you the dream, the promise or the vision, you’d not have much to hang onto. There is hope and the strengthening of our faith! Hang on. He knows what He is doing and He is coming through. He hasn’t forgotten about you though it seems that way and though it all seems dark and hopeless. Though you can’t seem to make any of it make sense or feel your way out. Again, I say: WAIT. Maybe it’s for you. Maybe it’s for someone you love but nevertheless, He remains.
Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! Psalm 27:14
And then I flipped over to Zechariah after the story of Joseph. I’m never not amazed by the goodness of God!
I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’ ” Zechariah 13:9
All throughout scripture we see that God really loves us and that He is always calling for us to turn around when we go the wrong way. He is always saving a remnant so that His covenant remains and so that His people aren’t destroyed. He may just be using you or someone you love to help save many. Who can tell what God is doing. Trust and do not doubt that He is always behind the scenes and at the forefront. His love remains and endures, and He is faithful to ALL of His promises. What is something that He has promised you that you can recall to mind, that hasn’t come to pass? Call upon God and remind Him. Being to seek His face.
He is refining us by the fire to burn off the unnecessary. He does it for our good. Everything isn’t ‘the enemy on our back’. God knows what is good but sometimes it hurts first. No one likes pain or correction but it is always for our good and profit, in the end.
One time I had said something to this effect: “it’s not just falling off of me, it’s being burned off of me.” But God is in it and something new is being birthed from your pain. We know the process of a birth requires that the seed first be implanted, the mothers womb begins to expand and grows. As this happens, the baby begins to grow and develop as does our dream inside of us. We can see it with the spiritual eye but we haven’t yet laid our physical eyes on it, yet! But, we can trust that it is coming and it is finished. BUT, their is a due time and were often closest when it’s hardest to stand. Wait!
As I’m reminded right now of my sister in law being due any day now, her legs are swollen and she’s uncomfortable and in pain. That’s an indicator that we’re closer, NOT further away. It might get harder before it gets better but rest assured that the hardest most painful part is the delivery method. Once it comes out, the pain is all forgotten about and it was all worthwhile - all that time that you had to carry it was for right now at this due moment. God was forming and forging something new all along, you just couldn’t see it but you felt it.
Just as the impurities are gone, the gold remains and that’s what He is going to use. He uses it all no doubt. Nothing is wasted. But we wanna be left with the goods.
Ultimately, Joseph’s brothers did come and they did recognize him, and no doubt fear had overcame them - because he was in a position to starve them out. But because of the testing and the time that Joseph had spent in the pit and alone with God, he did just the opposite. Just as the Father does for us because of the Son.
Don’t waste your pain. Don’t waste your time worrying. Don’t waste your time wishing ill, for its in vain. I’ve done it. It don’t work. Instead, spend it with God, seeking Him and spend it prayerfully. Stay in the moment for He is present but always ready for your next move/ His next move. You don’t even have to fight the battle, He already won and has already gone before you, setting up each and every single thing along the way. You are overcoming obstacles. Look at each instance for your good instead of for it being against you. It is all in perspective because the truth is, (and it’s not cliche, it’s truth!): “IF GOD BE FOR YOU, who in this world can be against us??” NO ONE AND NO THING. He gets the final say!
We have the very same power that raised Jesus from the dead in-dwelling in us as believers. Do you believe??
Nothing or no one compares to the Almighty!! He promises to work alllll these (each and every trial, mistake, mishap and blessing) out for your good in the end, IF you love Him and walk accordingly to His ways. Follow Him and let His Spirit lead you. Jesus overcame and left not only an example but a way for you. He ascended up to the Father and sent down His Spirit to be with and in you, to strengthen you day by day. He is now at the Fathers right hand seated and making intercession for you and I. We are not in this alone. He’s already went before and is ever present with you. He never leaves you. He never will. He remains. Someone needs to know this today!
Remain faithful to Him; to the end, your prize to win and you’ll see many miracles along the way. Take heart.
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
We have this hope and this hope is an anchor in the storm, AND it holds us in place.
If He is testing you, it is because He loves you and has greater for you. Where there is no resistance and strength training, there is also no growth. If God is stretching you and your faith, it is only to grow you and draw you closer to Him. We are made to grow and go and not to remain the same and stagnant. Don’t resist it. Fly with it. We are to grow stronger and stronger in that faith till the end. Until we use faith, we remain the same.
This is one of my favorite songs that got me through a very hard season. I’m reminded of His faithfulness again and again and I can recall that, “if He did it before, He CAN AND WILL do it again. He doesn’t fall off of His throne.”
“Take Courage” by Kristene DiMarco:
🎶 “Slow down, take time
Breath in He said
He'd reveal what's to come
The thoughts in His mind
Always higher than mine
He'll reveal all to come
Take courage my heart
Stay steadfast my soul
He's in the waiting
He's in the waiting
Hold onto your hope
As your triumph unfolds
He's never failing
He's never failing
Sing praise my soul
Find strength in joy
Let His Words lead you on
Do not forget
His great faithfulness
He'll finish all He's begun”
God bless and Amen.
