Strength Gained Through Hardships
1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Welcome back to another inspirational moment from historical Christian romance novels.
Over the past few weeks our pastor has been preaching on the Joseph Factor. Digging into Joseph’s life in Genesis has been intriguing and challenging. His life was rife with hardships. Starting with his brother’s hating him to the point they wanted to kill him. Instead, they sold him into slavery. He was sold yet again and became a servant for Potiphar.
Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him and when he refused and ran away, she falsely accused him of trying to rape her. Joseph was then thrown into prison. There helped the chief cupbearer regain his position and asked they he mention him to the Pharoah and get him out of prison. Yet when the cupbearer was restored to his position he forgot about Joseph. He wasn’t released from prison for another two years.
Throughout these hardships God was with Joseph. He granted him favor in the eyes of all those who had held him captive. To the point they put him in charge of everything in their care. God blessed Joseph and those around him benefited from God’s blessings.
In the novel To Tame a Cowboy Savannah talks to Brody about his scars.
"You no longer have to be condemned by your scars. God can redeem anything. Whenever you look at or feel your battle wounds, instead of seeing all the ways you failed, you can see the strength you've gained through the hardships and realize wounds might shape us, but they can't determine who we are."(p. 229 To Tame a Cowboy by Jody Hedlund)
Imagine all the scars Joseph had on the inside and outside. Yet he lived in confidence and without complaining because he knew God was with him. Too often we focus on our woes and allow our current situation to determine whether God is with us or not. Joseph had it right. He didn’t allow his circumstances to dictate his faith or change what he knew to be true. He lived knowing God was with him and working all things out for his good and God’s glory.
Pastor Jim put it this way, scars are reminders that God can get us through. Know that God is always with you and your faith during the midst of hard times strengthens the faith of others.
If you’re in a valley battling with the enemy right now or standing on the mountain top. I hope you found this inspirational moment up lifting and I want you to remember that no matter where you are right now, God is with you!
I’ll leave you with this thought. God is working his good and perfect will through you and that leaves scars. Treasure them, but don’t let them define you, that’s what God does.
If you would like to dig deeper and journal on these inspirational topics, consider purchasing our 25 Day reading companion for Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series. Click here for more information.
