Don't Waste Your Sorrows

SCRIPTURE: Gen.50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

OBSERVATION: This is the story of our lives. Satan intends to harm us but God finds a way to turn every one of our sorrows, disappointments, failures and setbacks into good for us. And not just good for us, but to bring us to a place in our lives where we can effectively touch many people's lives because of our experiences.

The New Testament says; "comfort one another with the same comfort you have received". When we go through these things God uses them to make us a more effective minister. He never wastes our sorrows.

In this walk with Jesus pain and woundedness is more than simply a tragedy. It has meaning and significance if we let God use it instead of getting bitter and angry. Joseph certainly had every reason to react that way, but instead, he kept looking for God's plan, learning and growing and God did bring about a great salvation through Joseph's suffering.

Remember, our sufferings are not just for us, they are for others as well.

OBSERVATION: I want, so often, to simply "lick my wounds"--when hard times come to find a corner to crawl into and feel sorry for myself. I am learning, at those times, to look around and see first what I need to learn and then to look for who I am to love and teach through something similar. Then what I am going through has meaning and value.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you that you intend everything that happens to us for our good. Give me the strength to live that out--to live, to grow, to love and to show others what you have taught me in the hard times.