From the Interruptions

The end of Genesis tells the story of how Joseph was sold as a slave by his own brothers. But with God on his side, Joseph ended up in Egypt under Potiphar where he started to become very successful. However, it wasn’t long before Joseph encountered trouble once again when he was sent to prison for something he didn’t do. Even so, Genesis 39 says that God was still with Joseph in prison. It was from there that Joseph began interpreting dreams which ended up being what got him out of prison over two years later when Pharaoh needed someone to interpret one of his own dreams. Joseph was called out of prison to interpret the dream, and upon doing so he not only was released, but also placed in a position of authority over all of Egypt. (Genesis 37, 39-41)

I can only imagine how Joseph was feeling in prison...I know if it was me, I probably wouldn’t have a whole lot of faith or hope left. Especially after being betrayed by his own family, Joseph probably didn’t feel like too many things were going right in his life. But it was in prison, and from prison that Joseph was used by God. If Joseph hadn’t been in prison when he was, he may have never gotten the chance to begin interpreting those dreams and would have never had such a huge impact on Egypt.

Oftentimes in life, our human judgment and interpretation convinces us that things aren’t going right. If something comes up and gets in the way of our plans, we get stressed, confused, afraid, angry and/or bitter because that was never the way things were supposed to go. I readily admit I’ve felt like this many times before. But my reaction should be the opposite.

Joseph’s plans were interrupted multiple times, but yet lead him right to the place where God wanted him.

Maybe your own plans have been interrupted because God is trying to use you.

Maybe it is those moments when nothing seems to be going right, that everything is right on track.

Maybe it is prison, rock bottom, or the lowest of the lows where God is calling you now, so that He can use you for something greater later.

It is verses like Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 3:5-6, and Romans 8:28 that we all cling to. We hear the words that God has a plan for us, and we feel comfort and hope in the words that He is working everything out for our good. But when push comes to shove, we throw those words out the window as soon as life is interrupted.

Life is incredibly short, and out of every single human being to ever walk the planet, God has a very specific purpose and plan for your life, whether you like it or not.

Ultimately, you don’t have the choice of what God’s plan is for your life…You only have the choice of either accepting it and doing something about it, or denying it, becoming bitter, and possibly wasting your life. 

“It will be very interesting one day to follow the pattern of our life as it is spread out like a beautiful tapestry. As long as we live here we see only the reverse side of the weaving, and very often the pattern, with its threads running wildly, doesn't seem to make sense. Someday, however, we shall understand.

In looking back over the years we can discover how a red thread goes through the pattern of our life: The Will of God.” ― Maria Augusta von Trapp