"Face down" is getting a little tedious, and I needed to read this today. I'm pretty sure someone else needs to read it, too! Great encouragement! smile emoticon
The process of being squeezed and uncomfortable can break us down, making us feel helpless, alone and sometimes even good for nothing. We can question, God, where are You? Or, Let’s hurry this discomfort along, OK? Or even wonder, God, I thought You loved me. What did I do wrong?
Let me remind you of something, friend. Being squeezed by outside pressure doesn’t indicate God’s rejection, abandonment or that He made a mistake. Sometimes in His great sovereignty and love, God allows for our character to be refined. God reminded me of this recently when I was studying the life of Joseph.
You may remember Joseph and his coat of many colors. As a teenager, Joseph had big dreams; however, a series of unfortunate events seemed to circumvent those aspirations. He faced difficult and disappointing times — more than once — and was even sold into slavery by his very own brothers.
Can you imagine going from favored child to slave? I wouldn’t have had a very good attitude about that..,, But not Joseph. Time and time again Joseph’s plans went differently than expected, yet he ultimately chose to follow God every step of the way. Regardless of outside pressures and demands— Joseph chose to be excellent. The Bible tells us he advanced because of his positive attitude, and he experienced God’s kindness and favor in the midst of struggles and disappointments.
Let’s be honest. The refining process isn’t easy or comfortable. Prison was a dark place, a place where Joseph really didn’t want to be … a place where he saw no way out.
But throughout Joseph’s story, God reminds us, very diligently, that no matter how awful and appalling the circumstances, He was still with Joseph.
Want to hear some good news? He’s still with us, too.
So, friend, if you feel squeezed and broken down, please remember, our God has great purpose in His refining process. He uses whatever He can to form the character He desires for us, His dearly loved kids. - Michelle McKinney Hammond
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