Bad things happen, God uses them to help us GROW

As we continue the story of Joseph today when it starts with how bad things happen God uses them to help us grow.

When Joseph refused to sleep with Potiphar’s wife God rewarded him by putting him in prison. Doesn’t seem like much of a reward, does it? If you do what’s right I’m going to put you in jail.

Did Joseph lose heart when God put them in prison? No, Joseph continued to strive to do what was right by God, and before long; he was placed over all the prisoners.

Sometimes when bad things happen, God uses them to teach us. He teaches us patience, he teaches us to love, teaches us how to trust him even more. God uses those hard times to help us grow even though we can’t see it when we’re in the middle of them.

Do you think when Joseph was thrown into the prison he thought, wow what a great experience is going to be I’m so glad God put me here? Probably not. We can learn a lot from Joseph. One of the things that we can learn is the trust God with all of our hearts. We can learn to know that he always is looking out for what’s best for us.

You see Joseph didn’t know what was coming next  He couldn’t see what God had planned.  He had no clue that God was going to place him second in command over all of Egypt, and then he would be responsible for saving so many lives. In the same way we don’t see what God has planned for us next.

We don’t know where God is going to take us. Therefore, we have to trust that whatever he is putting us through he is grooming us for our next step. We have to be willing to walk that path, to walk where God needs us.

God is leading Joseph on a path to his ultimate success and Joseph doesn’t have a clue. Just as if we don’t have a clue where God is guiding us.

Remember that he never said that the path would be paved and downhill all the time. Besides, that it will be a nice cool day with clouds for shade to cool a gentle breeze and we down that pushes us along the path. No, the path is going to be rocky, and rough, and sometimes might seem like we cannot go another step. I’m sure that Joseph felt the same way more than once.

The key is to trust that God is there to help you. He is there to encourage you when you feel like you can’t go another step.  Remember that you can do ANYTHING with God!