The darkness between promise and fulfillment

Sin had brought pain and confusion. Her mind was spinning with indecision. “I’m living in a nightmare” she sobbed, and rightly so, for none of her apparent options were good. Her tears were born out of despair. One response could have been a cold, “Well, work it out. You chose this path.”  If we throw the problem back on the person in pain, we can avoid involvement. But, the Spirit rose in me, moving me to remember hope; to make the declaration that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. In Him there is always hope,  a new way forward, perhaps not what we had dreamed or hoped for, but a new plan He creates.

Joseph lived in a nightmare for years! A little pride in him stoked the resentment of his brothers who sold him to slave traders. They dragged him hundreds of miles from home to Egypt, where he became the slave of Potiphar. Just as life seemed to be leveling out for him, Potiphar’s wife invited him into her bed. His refusal of her seduction infuriated her. He found himself in prison on false charges of rape. After a few years, there was a glimmer of hope when he made connections with a man from Pharaoh’s palace, a man who promptly forget Joe when he was released.  Only years later, in a supernatural way, Joseph was lifted to a position of influence, which allowed him to save his family.  A key to understanding his story is found in this phrase which is inserted in the middle of it all:  "the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor." (Genesis 39:21, NIV) A cynic might say, “If God was with him, He sure had a strange way of making it known.”  What we can see with hindsight is how slavery, false charges, and years of prison life turned a proud kid into a compassionate man, a leader of amazing capabilities.

There are two words that reside between promise and fulfillment. They are faith and hope. Hebrews reminds us that ‘without faith it is impossible to please God.’  Why? Because often the only way to hang onto hope of His promise is faith. Everything that is apparent screams “give up, protect yourself, follow your gut!”  Those without a God-oriented view of life will give us advise that is well-intentioned but ignorant of eternity’s promise. Who would have thought that the path to salvation would go through the Cross of Calvary? Who would have dreamed that the road to the Throne would path through the grave? But Jesus kept faith, lived in hope, and the Scripture says: "Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." (Philippians 2:9-10, NLT)

Are you caught in the darkness between promise and fulfillment?

Are you longing to just get it over and done, to find a place of peace?

Ah, disciple, don’t rush forward before you wait on God. The land of faith and hope is often a place where Self dies and God does a major work of transformation. Don’t give up.

Here’s a word from the Word. Live in it today, for the glory of God.

"Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." (Hebrews 10:32-36, NIV)

____________

I am weak but Thou art strong;

Jesus, keep me from all wrong;

I'll be satisfied as long

As I walk, let me walk

Close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee,

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

When my feeble life is o'er,

Time for me will be no more;

Guide me gently, safely o'er,

To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Just A Closer Walk With Thee

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