God’s Training Ground

One of my favorite biblical heroes is Joseph; a young man, who from his very beginnings, had the hand of God upon him. While tending the sheep at age seventeen, Joseph shared with his brothers his unusual dreams regarding the sheaves that bowed down and the sun, moon and eleven stars that bowed down to him. His father rebuked him for his arrogance and his brothers hated him even more….so much that they sold him into slavery.

Now this could have been the start of the whining of Joseph…that “poor, poor pitiful me mentality” that so many seem to have in our society today. But for Joseph, he did NOT grumble or complain; rather, he trusted in God to preserve and protect him in this strange land. Though a slave in Potiphar’s household, he worked diligently and the Lord’s favor was upon him…in everything that Joseph did, he gave praise to God and remained faithful to the Lord.

When Potiphar’s wife accused Joseph of sexual assault and he was falsely imprisoned, he did not grumble or plead with his master; rather, he set out to become the model prisoner and was soon in charge of the entire prison population….and once again, God’s favor was upon Joseph and all of his endeavors.

For thirteen years, Joseph spent his live as a slave and prisoner at the hands of his Egyptian masters….and for thirteen years; he trained himself through his obedience to God to make himself ready to become a ruler of the Egyptian people. God had a position that only Joseph could fill; but, when he arrived in Egypt, he was not prepared to lead. He was placed in God’s training ground to become all that God intended for him to be. Yes, the dreams that he had as a young man did come true, but only after he had committed himself to follow God’s leading without grumbling or complaining.

If we want to reach our full potential, we need to take a page from Joseph’s playbook and learn to be obedient to God ….and we need to stop all our complaining. Joseph was faithful in EVERY situation and God blessed him….and saved a nation.

He is ready to do the same in you and me…He’s just waiting for us to stop focusing on our circumstances and start trusting in our God.

So why not become a Joseph today…..don’t look at your position in life and grumble and complain….rather see that God has placed you in His training ground and He is preparing, improving, motivating, inspiring and undergirding you for the position He wants you to occupy…..

Why not memorize this scripture as your battle cry…”HE WHO IS FAITHFUL IN WHAT IS LEAST IS FAITHFUL ALSO IN MUCH.” Luke 16:9

Go on…trust God to make you into the person He wants you to be…Be faithful in the training ground….God has BIG plans for you just ahead!

Trusting in the Father….Faithful in the tough times,

WPQ