There are times when it seems that circumstances go from bad to worse
literally overnight. When family problems escalate, it is often tempting
to feel sorry for yourself. In the midst of our troubles we fail to realize
that God actually helps us by allowing us to go through adverse circumstances…
Genesis 42:29-36
And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told
him all that befell unto them; saying, [30] The man, who is the lord of
the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. [31]
And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies: [32] We be twelve
brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day
with our father in the land of Canaan. [33] And the man, the lord of the
country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave
one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your
households, and be gone: [34] And bring your youngest brother unto me:
then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will
I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land. [35] And
it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's
bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw
the bundles of money, they were afraid. [36] And Jacob their father said
unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon
is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.
Certainly we can peek ahead and discover the outcome of this whole matter,
but Jacob could not! Therefore, it's easy for you and I to detect that
by stating that all things were against him Jacob did not understand that
God was working for the preservation of his family at this point in time.
Ladies, how can we read a passage like this without applying it to our
own life? Is there a chance you've believed the same thing Jacob did concerning
your own tribulations? Does it all lie like a heavy load upon you?
Romans 8:31
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against
us?
Oftentimes the most complicated things we have to face are for the improvement
of our whole family! Rather than giving in to discouragement, we should
yield ourselves more under the mighty hand of God and be willing to wait
as the Lord works all things together for our good. A delay is better
than a disaster… No set of circumstances should cause us to lose our security
in Him! In this life we may expect difficulties, but we may not expect
God to desert us in them…
2 Cor. 4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
When you live by faith in Christ, you get the right perspective on suffering.
It is working for you, not against you… The problem is, without faith
we pronounce our afflictions heavy when faith in God labels them light!
Correct your judgment by putting your problems on God's scale and you'll
find that His great glory should weigh most of all.
Eccles. 7:8
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient
in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Ladies, the fact that God has made both the good times and the bad times
should affect the way we view and live our life by bringing a balance
to our spirit. Unfortunately, most of us lean toward extremes! Give your
spirit some consideration today; are you getting steadier or wobblier
as your difficulties intensify? How do you plan on bearing up under what
lies before you? As our text proves today, Jacob was off balance in his
spirit and had an extreme outlook on life - ALL things were deemed against
him! True, he couldn't take possession of Joseph, Simeon or Benjamin in
this time of family troubles, but Jacob could possess himself! Patience
is the companion of wisdom… The patient in spirit is able to see a thing
through while the proud in spirit looks to their own schemes to maneuver
their afflictions instead of yielding to them. If you respond to them
properly, in the end you'll see the benefit of your trials! Hold on, hold
fast, and hold out! Times of tribulation are times of testimony… What
is yours??
Luke 21:19
In your patience possess ye your souls.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2003 Pamela A. Iannello
