Pain has a way of changing us. How, and into what, is up to us. One thing we can be sure of in this life, pain in many forms will come. A relationship lost or broken, a dream unrealized, abuse, choices made or made for us…yes, pain carves and erodes and shapes like a river slowly etching away. Each of us experiences different forms of pain, and yet we can all relate to feeling the sting of injustice, or being alone, disappointed, angry, fearful, betrayed, and confused. We all have pain in common. What sets us apart from one another is what we choose to believe and do when we experience pain.

Joseph said it three times to them in the midst of his joy…”It was God”, “God has sent me ahead of you”, “It was God.” He was letting them off the hook, these brothers standing in front of him who were in desperate need. They were subject to his rule and authority, vulnerable and scared. He could have done anything to them, after all, he was second in command behind Pharaoh. Options included throwing them in jail, having them killed, torturing them, or leaving them to the mercy of the raging famine.  His brothers whose jealousy and insecurities had led to a special hatred of him, who sold him, which directly led to him being a slave, wrongfully accused, imprisoned and forgotten; stood helpless in front of him. And yet, we see Joseph free from all bitterness and anger, he welcomes, invites, makes a way for their families to live, and gives them the best of what he has to offer. HOW? WHY?

The temptation to blame and get deeply and intensely angry was ever present for years, I am sure. Nothing had been fair. And yet Joseph displays an eternal hope grounded in an unshakable belief that Gods plan for him, and for them, was bigger than his current circumstances or pain and could not be thwarted. Through every unthinkable event Joseph remains steadfast, consistently planting seeds of mercy, forgiveness and love in his heart, while uprooting the weeds of contempt, anger, and bitterness. No, the Word doesn’t spell this out, and yet I am confident that much can be discerned through his actions and words as he met his brothers face to face.

Our actions and words are only by-products of the beliefs we plant and nurture.

God has shown me multiple things from this part of Josephs story, found in Genesis chapter 45, that He has led me to apply and learn from. They have been a great encouragement to me and I hope they will be to you as well.

Surrender is always the road to lasting victory. How do you define victory? Being right? Getting your way? Demolishing your opponent? None of these bring life. The satisfaction is empty, the “winning” temporary. The worlds’ definition of victory leaves us desolate and barren, God’s definition of victory, through the path of surrender and forgiveness leads to life, joy and peace. Jesus, while depending on His Father, exemplified surrender, to the point of death. Death on a cross. He surrendered to the will of his Father, which led to victory over the grave, and because of that I was granted a life I did not deserve. Josephs life of surrender led to his families survival and life, to victory.

Forgiveness must be a way of life. He did not wallow. There was no self-pity. When he came face to face with his brothers he was harboring no vengeance or anger, he was free from all of that to love. He did not use His power to punish or harm, destroy or degrade, his position and power was given to save their lives. He was not a victim, through Christ he was an overcomer. His daily choice to forgive gave him the power to embrace, he wasn’t chained to any contempt or malice, instead his heart leapt with joy to see them and welcome them.

God’s bigger picture trumps my experience. Josephs ability to see God at work in all his suffering was the open door to experiencing all joy and grace and peace. It was always bigger than him. It was about people. Nations, even.

Christs’ love is wider, deeper, reaches farther, and does not have an expiration date. That person who hurt you? They are deeply and fiercely loved by God, just as you are. His heart is for them, and for you, and He is working on their behalf, and yours. They are not the enemy, God will forever pursue them and you with an earth-shattering, mountain-moving, miracle-working love. It is His great pleasure to invite you into the greatest adventure of wildly loving people who don’t act lovable.

I have been spiritually gifted and can operate in this gifting in every circumstance and situation. No situation or circumstance is too small or insignificant to warrant my excellence. Whether in a prison or pharaoh’s palace, at home or on stage, with my family or with strangers. God has gifted me in supernatural ways and without the chains of anger, bitterness or revenge I am free to experience His great power at work in me. Supernatural gifts yield supernatural results when I stop comparing my audience or work to someone else’s. Joseph operated in his gifting of leadership in every conceivable situation. What situations are you in now that you aren’t operating in your gifting simply because you are blinded by, or in bondage to unforgiveness, anger or bitterness?

There are a few places in my life where it is evident I have harbored hurt, and unresolved anger. There is a bondage I have experienced and this part of Josephs story has encouraged me to uproot the lies of the enemy and live in daily surrender, keeping guard of my heart. Because we will all face the crossroads that Joseph did, and when I do I want to behave in accordance with who I am, full of grace and mercy.

“Time grows the seeds that are planted, watered and fertilized. Plant beauty, grow beauty. Plant thorns, grow thorns. Time will allow for either”. – Lysa Terkeurst.

Beholding His Glory in the daily surrender,