Philippians 3:13-14
“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
It was in August 1989 that I received a call from our oldest daughter who lived a few hundred miles from us. She started the conversation by asking if I was sitting down. I told her I was. She said she was in the hospital in Boise, Idaho, with a very rare heart condition.
Those words gripped me and caused me to immediately go to the Lord to seek wisdom, guidance and strength. When we arrived in Boise, the doctor informed us and Brenda that the only possibility of saving her life was a heart and lung transplant. The prognosis of a critical condition struck like lightning. In spite of all of the efforts of medical science, Brenda had her perfect healing on July 11, 1991, as she was ushered into the presence of the Lord.
There are sometimes traumatic moments in our lives that will change us completely. We may be able to go on, but we will never be able to go back. With a broken heart I read many of your messages that tell of defeat, deceit, divorce, disaster or death. As I read and pray for those of you who have written, there is one certainty—you will never be the same.
When Brenda called on that momentous day, our life and her life changed dramatically. We were not the same family as we were before. She changed dramatically from an indifferent follower to a sold-out soul winner. She accomplished far more for the Lord in the few months she was given than many do in an entire lifetime.
So, how about you? Are you wasting your time and effort to try to get things back the way they were before your traumatic occurrence? If you are, the object of your efforts is YOU! Instead of reaching out to others, you may be self absorbed and introverted.
In the book of Genesis, Joseph was sold into slavery. That was certainly a momentous moment for him. What did he do about it? He must have learned the Egyptian language so well that he became the head over his master, Mister P’s house. Then he was falsely accused by Mrs. P and thrown into prison for many years.
Joseph’s refusal to wallow in self pity opened the door for him to develop keen organizational skills that became essential when he was promoted to the second highest position in Egypt, and to become the means of salvation for his family (even the brothers who had treated him so cruelly and sold him as a slave).
To me, one of the most revealing aspects of Joseph’s life is to be found in Genesis 50:20. Jacob had died and his brothers feared that Joseph would now retaliate for the evil they had done to him so long ago. They concocted a story that Jacob had told them to forgive his brothers and not harm them.
Joseph gives us words that show his total dependence upon God in the good times or the bad times. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
If you’re in the time of your pain and trial, look to the Lord and be busy about His business. God is able to use our painful trials to do His work. Look to the Lord and find hope!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
- – - Pastor Cecil