This article was written by a dear friend who wanted to remain anonymous. I wanted to post it on my blog since what was written could be a blessing to many Christians right now. I am quite sure if you have been walking with Christ for any period of time you will be able to relate. May the Lord use it for His glory.
“I have given them Your word and the world has hated them…… Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world….” John 17:14…18
I really wish everyone loved me. That I was their favorite. Their best friend. That they always considered me kind and who they could come to anytime they needed me. That they loved me as much as I love them. What movie have I been watching? As children of God, we have the life of Jesus living inside of us. His life gives us His desires to have (here & now) a life where love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control are all the normal parts of our day. We long for that beautiful way of living. We long to see it in others. We long for everyone to love one another more than themselves, and everyone to honor and consider one another. (Doesn’t it sound wonderful?) But, so often I forget to quit looking for that kind of love while still in these bodies. We aren’t in Heaven. Not yet. And because I sometimes forget, it is very painful. As sinful human beings, we can be inconsiderate, rude, mean-spirited, selfish, looking only at our four and no more. We can betray. Reject. Often times these things happen from the ones we least expect it. The ones we love the most. We feel crushed and want to give up. We want to isolate ourselves from them. Cut them off. But we shouldn’t. Because these things, which our enemy will always intend for evil, will be used for a wonderful, divine and eternal purpose if we believe God.
“Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds…”
The trials of rejection and betrayal are nothing new under the sun. Joseph experienced it - betrayed by his brothers. He should have been loved by them more than anyone. Supported and built up by them. Instead he was hated. Talked about. Plotted against. Gotten rid of. He could have isolated his heart and become bitter. He chose, instead, to walk before God. He knew that God was his, and he was God’s. That was all that mattered to him. God needs to be who matters to us the most. If He is, we can walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control ~ no matter how others treat us, and God will use that for a good which goes above and beyond all that we ever imagined. Joseph was still very hurt as evidenced by his bursting out and crying so loudly that the Egyptians could hear him. But he chose to believe God and His hand at work in his life, stating “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you…..to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” He didn’t want his brothers to be distressed. He didn’t want them to be angry with themselves. He didn’t want them to pay for what they had done to him. He saw their actions as a part of God’s plan. Joseph considered God in the mix, knowing that the testing of his faith had a divine, eternal purpose. How could seeing other’s hurtful actions toward us as part of God’s plan affect our ability to forgive? That’s a game-changer for me. Give me those glasses, please.
Presently I am at a season of life where it seems trials are all around me. If I look to the east, they are there. To the north, to the south, to the west. This morning as I prayed, “Lord, what on earth?” He reminded me, “Exactly. You are on earth.” Immediately my thoughts went to 1 Peter 4:12: “ Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” Do people mistreat you? Rejoice! There’s a reason for it. Do people hate you and for the life of you, you can’t figure out why? God says, “Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.” Stop being surprised! Memorize these verses until you stop being surprised. After all, aren’t trials meant to prove something?
1 Peter 4:13 “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. “
There is a promise here ~ His glory is going to be revealed in the situation. Don’t blow it. Don’t be disobedient. Be obedient…and His glory will be revealed in it. How can I be obedient? Treat them with truth and kindness. (Proverbs 3:3) Intercede for them. (Acts 7:60) Thank God for this situation. (Phil. 4:6) This is God’s will. Always. No exceptions. Joseph said to his brother-betrayers, “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” Here is a “selah” moment. What if this very situation of betrayal you have experienced is God’s plan so that you are ahead of them in prayer? Interceding for them….blessing the ones who have cursed you, praying for the ones who have used you, doing good to those who hate you. (Luke 6) This is your big chance to participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed! What if it is your prayers God uses to pave the way to preserve that person? And not only them, but their remnant (family) for the greatest deliverance of all - salvation through the cross of Jesus? What if you are their Joseph? Could it be this is what the whole situation is about? What if Joseph had believed the enemy and made it all about his hurt? What if it was never about hurting you, but saving them?
As Jesus prayed, we have: sanctification, His Word (which must be our “go-to”…not other people), protection from the evil one and special orders that we be sent out. He is the God & Captain of His army, sending out His soldiers with His own armor and power over the enemy, to be a part of the great rescue mission. We will take some hits, but be aware that the enemy will try to discourage us with these hits and tempt us to make it about us instead of the ones who need rescuing. Don’t be distracted. Don’t make it about you. Be their Joseph.
Fiery ordeals are the invitation to participate in His work. It’s what we are sent out into: “to bring a great deliverance” to someone. To actively walk in our ambassadorship with the message of reconciliation. So the next time I find myself being mistreated, rejected, or betrayed, I’ll see that as a call to participate in His work in the life of someone who needs Him ~ knowing that we will all see His glory revealed.
FIERY TRIALS = HIS GLORY REVEALED
Write this truth on the tablet of my heart, Father.
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