I was recently encouraged by two sermons with very similar topics. One was preached by an evangelist that I had never heard before on Tuesday, and the other sermon was preached by my father on Wednesday.
The topic: Dissapointment.
The evangelist was preaching from Genesis, going through the dissapointments that Joseph faced. Jospeh was shown at a young age that he was to be a leader. At the age of 17, Joseph was surely confused when he was sold into slavery by his own brothers. How could he be a leader if he was a slave? You know the story. Several times, Joseph was blessed by God with favor in the eyes of those over him, only to be unfairly put down. Eventually, Joseph was giving a great position of power. After thirteen years of waiting for the dreams he had as a young man to be fulfilled, Joseph finally saw what God had been doing.
The evangelist pointed out that throughout everything that Joseph faced in his life, he remained Spiritual, Steadfast, and Sweet.
Spiritual: because Joseph never stopped trusting God.
Steadfast: Joseph was consistent no matter what happened to him.
Sweet: he never dwelled on what had happened to him; he was able to forgive the brothers that had hated him and welcome them with tears. How he had missed them!
My father's sermon did not showcase the trials of a person from the Bible, but the ones that he had recently been facing in his own personal life.
From the time that I really started maturing as a young teenage Christian, I saw the faith that my Dad and how it was so real in his life. The most recent problem that entered his life made me think about how his trust in God's watchful, loving eye gave me peace. Yes, at first it seemed overwhelming to face this new challenge. Where is God's hand in it?
Even though it may seem that it is just bad luck what has happened, my Dad, and even I, know that God is in control, and He knows much more how this is being used for our good. We may never see the reason now while we are here on earth, but does it matter if we do? The simple answer is, no.
Why worry about the unknown, when He that knows all is keeping careful watch?
These messages were a blessing to me because of the dissapointments that I have faced in my life. Compared to many others, what I have had to deal with is inconsequential. But I always take heart when I remember that God remembers and loves us each individually.
In the life that people see me living, I want them to see how God is blessing and taking care of me, the strength that He gives me to have a smile on my face even when I am not particularly happy.
Why should I burden others with my problems when I could be encouraging them instead?
What would really be most helpful to those I interact with every day?
I want the focus to be on how He has carried me through these trials, not on the trials themselves, and how I feel about it.
I save all of the discouragement I may be feeling, the saddness, and the dissapointment for when I seek His face.
"Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." I Peter 5:7
Why worry, when you can pray?
Trust Jesus, He'll be your stay.
Don't be a doubting Thomas,
Live fully in His promise,
Why worry, worry, worry, worry,
When you can pray?
Have a great Lord's Day!
