(Genesis 43: 22-23) “We have also brought down other money in our hand to buy food; we do not know who put our money in our sacks." He said, "Be at ease, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money."
Learn to praise God in the storm and ask Him to open your eyes to the hidden treasure in your trial. The story of Joseph and his brothers is a wonderful story and an example of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness in face of bitterness and resentment. Joseph endured much heartache in being rejected by his brothers who were full of jealousy. They wanted to kill him; they threw him in a pit and sold him into slavery. He was accused wrongly and thrown into prison, but God! A divine appointment shows up in the prison which would turn out for Joseph’s release and promotion to the palace and second in command!
(Hebrews 13:15-16) “ Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.â€
(Psalm 50:23) “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show My salvation."
As a young teenager Joseph had not learned humility. He came boasting of his dreams to his brothers which was not a good idea given they were already jealous of him. But through Joseph’s hardships in what they did Joseph learned humility.
(I Peter 5:5) “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."
(Proverbs 15:33) “Wisdom's instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.â€
His brothers learned as well; they learned what true forgiveness is and unconditional love. When Joseph finally revealed himself he did not make them feel bad but he fed them! That is what Jesus did for us. Most of the Jews rejected Him when He came but He still died for them and for us! (Romans 5:8) “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.†He not only died for us but upon our asking gives us His Holy Spirit to teach us, guide us, protect us and comfort us!
(John 14:16-21) “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show Myself to them.â€
(John 14:26-27) “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.â€
How can we not praise Him? Trials will build our character, (Romans 5:3-5) “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.â€
Through the trials I have been through, living with an alcoholic I have been made to feel invisible, as if I did not matter. Since the Lord has brought me out I have a strong desire to help other women feel pretty to bless them in ways they are not able to at the present. I have had extreme financial difficulties and through that I have a desire to bless people with handfuls on purpose, to carry gift cards from grocery stores, department stores, hair salons and home improvement stores to give out as the Lord leads me. It is in the trial that if you will look you will find hidden treasures. It has been in the trial that the desires of my heart were born. If God placed those desires in my heart, then He most certainly will provide all that is needed to make them happen! (Psalm 37:4) “Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.†Lastly out of being deprived of real love for so long I began searching for it and in that I found Jesus. In finding Jesus another passion arose, a passion to help others find and understand the love of God. As in the words of Danny Gokey’s new song, God is saying to us, “I am more than you think I am.†As I continued to seek the Lord and study the Word of God He also birthed the desire to write and since then I have written 16 books both adult Christian fiction and non-fiction and children’s. Wow! That is my God!
Are you in a trial! Is it overwhelming you? God will not place on you more than you can bear and trust Him; trust in the One who died for you that if He loves you enough to die for you then what you are going through will be for your good. (I Corinthians 10:13) “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.†So in your trial ask Him to give you a revelation and open your eyes to the lessons He is trying to teach you and the passions He is trying to awaken in you. Ask and you shall receive. (John 16:24) "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.â€
(Proverbs 2: 1-5) “My son, if you accept My words and store up My commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.â€
(Matthew 13:44) "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.â€
When you have learned what is needed then God will bring you out and better than you were before and blessed beyond measure!
(Galatians 6:9) “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.â€
Praise You in the Storm
Learn to praise God in the storm and ask Him to open your eyes to the hidden treasure in your trial. The story of Joseph and his brothers is a wonderful story and an example of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness in face of bitterness and resentment. Joseph endured much heartache in being rejected by his brothers who were full of jealousy. They wanted to kill him; they threw him in a pit and sold him into slavery. He was accused wrongly and thrown into prison, but God! A divine appointment shows up in the prison which would turn out for Joseph’s release and promotion to the palace and second in command!
(Hebrews 13:15-16) “ Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.â€
(Psalm 50:23) “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show My salvation."
As a young teenager Joseph had not learned humility. He came boasting of his dreams to his brothers which was not a good idea given they were already jealous of him. But through Joseph’s hardships in what they did Joseph learned humility.
(I Peter 5:5) “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."
(Proverbs 15:33) “Wisdom's instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.â€
His brothers learned as well; they learned what true forgiveness is and unconditional love. When Joseph finally revealed himself he did not make them feel bad but he fed them! That is what Jesus did for us. Most of the Jews rejected Him when He came but He still died for them and for us! (Romans 5:8) “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.†He not only died for us but upon our asking gives us His Holy Spirit to teach us, guide us, protect us and comfort us!
(John 14:16-21) “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show Myself to them.â€
(John 14:26-27) “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.â€
How can we not praise Him? Trials will build our character, (Romans 5:3-5) “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.â€
Through the trials I have been through, living with an alcoholic I have been made to feel invisible, as if I did not matter. Since the Lord has brought me out I have a strong desire to help other women feel pretty to bless them in ways they are not able to at the present. I have had extreme financial difficulties and through that I have a desire to bless people with handfuls on purpose, to carry gift cards from grocery stores, department stores, hair salons and home improvement stores to give out as the Lord leads me. It is in the trial that if you will look you will find hidden treasures. It has been in the trial that the desires of my heart were born. If God placed those desires in my heart, then He most certainly will provide all that is needed to make them happen! (Psalm 37:4) “Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.†Lastly out of being deprived of real love for so long I began searching for it and in that I found Jesus. In finding Jesus another passion arose, a passion to help others find and understand the love of God. As in the words of Danny Gokey’s new song, God is saying to us, “I am more than you think I am.†As I continued to seek the Lord and study the Word of God He also birthed the desire to write and since then I have written 16 books both adult Christian fiction and non-fiction and children’s. Wow! That is my God!
Are you in a trial! Is it overwhelming you? God will not place on you more than you can bear and trust Him; trust in the One who died for you that if He loves you enough to die for you then what you are going through will be for your good. (I Corinthians 10:13) “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.†So in your trial ask Him to give you a revelation and open your eyes to the lessons He is trying to teach you and the passions He is trying to awaken in you. Ask and you shall receive. (John 16:24) "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.â€
(Proverbs 2: 1-5) “My son, if you accept My words and store up My commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.â€
(Matthew 13:44) "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.â€
When you have learned what is needed then God will bring you out and better than you were before and blessed beyond measure!
(Galatians 6:9) “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.â€
Praise You in the Storm
