WARNING: This is a no-edit zone…
A lot has happened in the past few months–some good, some not so good. It’s been a season of challenges, and the challenges continue.
When that happens to us–and it happens to all of us–our first reaction is to look for someone else to blame. Anyone else to blame. There’s little constructive in that, but it’s a human reaction and very normal to do.
In this position, I remind myself about Joseph. The coat of many colors Joseph. And this is why:
That always changes my perspective. Joseph wasn’t ready to be Prime Minister of Egypt. He had to be prepared. His skill set and mindset had to be tempered and adjusted and expanded. Without any one of his experiences during his season of problems and trials, he wouldn’t have been ready to assume the role he had to take to save his people, including his family.
I’m sure Joseph wearied of the trials and worries. I’m sure he was outraged at being betrayed and falsely accused. But he had to make a call. To be destroyed by what was happening or to continue to walk in faith and do what he believed was right–to be a man of character that he knew he should be.
We have to make that call, too, when troubled times are upon us. And the decisions we make will determine what we encounter on the other side of those troubles. We know nothing good lasts forever, but we have a harder time remembering nothing bad does, either.
So when troubled times rain on our heads, we have to remember the sun will shine again. The question isn’t whether it will happen but when–and whether or not we’ll be ready for what comes next when it does.
If we’re mired in all that is wrong, we’re missing opportunities to seize on what is right. The door closes, but the window opens. It’s up to us to notice the window, notice that it’s open, and to crawl through it. We have to do our part to prepare so, like Joseph, when our pathway to success opens, we’re ready to walk it.
Identify the problem, then focus on solutions. Watch for opportunities because they come with the weeds not with the flower blossoms. That’s how life works.
If we understand that, we will mimic Joseph’s key to success: stay strong, walk in faith and do what’s right because we’re people of character.
It’s like someone said (sorry, I forget who) the harder I work the luckier I get. The more I fail, the more I succeed.
Joseph taught us many lessons about success and timing and forgiveness, about character. About choices we make and the impact they have on shaping our lives and the lives of all those we influence.
So, yes, we all have problems, and we all get soaked by the rain. Of course, we do. We’re being prepared for the sun.
And it, like the rain, will come in its own time. When we seize our opportunities and we’re ready, like the sun, we too will shine.
