An application of the Old Testament story of Abraham to modern life.
I frequently reference Old Testament characters that I admire greatly. They made history, and their stories are recorded in the Bible. However, today I'm encouraged most by their difficulties.
When Joseph was in a pit or temporarily "housed" in prison, he had a lot of downtime. We can just flip through the pages of the Book to get to the conclusion of the story. We have no idea about the details of what he experienced or suffered during the waiting period. We're not sure how he may have placed his trust in God or wrestled with his faith. How we get through those "What in the World !?!" moments matter.
I've had moments where I thought the difficulty was all over now. "I've been delivered from the pit (or the prison), it's palace time!" I foolishly thought. How funny and naive I was to take the stories of the Old Testament and think that once we'd passed that ONE major thing, it was all over. Life is a series of experiences and challenges. Fortunately, there's no need to become stagnant and stay put in life. Unfortunately, challenges are all around.
I find some challenges fun, sparking my ability to grow my thinking and problem-solving capabilities. Other challenges are grating, like a gigantic cheese grater, having a field day with my skin. Recently, I had the thought that Bible talks about iron sharpening iron. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." What if some people are like giant cheese graters made of iron? They may not be pleasant, but they may be part of reshaping who I become.
Whenever I start thinking things like, "I don't want to be here," "this is pointless," "these people are getting on my last nerve," I have to remind myself of Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
I'm reminded that some of these places that we pass through, are just stops along the journey. In my case, I know this isn't it. God doesn't bring us this far to let us drop until He completes His purposes in our lives. Philippians 1:6, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
The most important thing is to make sure that you're on the same the page with Him. The best favor we can do to ourselves is to have a sensitivity to His leading, to continue hearing His voice, and responding in obedience. Be determined to see this journey through the end. Look forward to hearing "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23).