This week I've been listening to a sermon series about adventurous living by Dr. Mark Rutland. One of the sermons is entitled "Adventure of Pain" (which I have not yet actually listened to). What is adventurous about pain? We usually think of something adventurous as something fun, exciting, and exhilarating. Yet, in many an adventure, there is some pain involved. Part of the adventurous quest, the epic journey, is the struggle. And what we learn in the midst of our pain is often more valuable to us than if life were always fun and exciting.
Joseph, in the Bible, could have lived a life of ease and comfort as his father's son, privileged and exalted in his family. Life could have been peachy for Joseph. What if his brothers were not jealous and hateful? What if they celebrated his gifts and talents, and appreciated his dreams?
"Hey, Joseph, that's a great dream you had," says Judah, "One day we're going to bow down to you! Wow, that's awesome. I can't wait! Hey, why don't we just bow down to you right now? Your dream can come true today!"
And, then, one day, years later, a caravan arrives from Egypt during the famine. Pharaoh has a dream that a man named Joseph, from the house of Israel, will come and save his people. In a moment Joseph is promoted to second-in-command in Egypt, just like that. The process involves no pain, no agony, no false accusations, no hateful brothers, no moments in a pit, no sleepless nights in a dungeon, and no forgetful cupbearers. No fear, no frustration, no loneliness, no sorrow, no disappointment, and no pain. Just blissful blessings.
Obviously, that is not how the story goes. What began with a holy, divine dream, proceeded to be an adventure of pain. Yes, it was painful. But it was good. Yes, it has a hard struggle, but it was fruitful. Joseph says, "...God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering" (Genesis 41:52)
Joseph's life may have been hard, but it was certainly not boring. It was an adventure. Any life lived for God will be so. Yes, even in pain, if we are following God, we know all things work together for the good. We know God is using the pain for His good purpose in our lives. We know He is using it to make us stronger, to make us better, more like Jesus. He is molding and refining our character. And, ultimately, He is expanding His kingdom in our lives so we can be a greater blessing to others.
Have you ever read, A Tale Of Three Kings? It's a book about brokenness.
ReplyDeleteDavid had to go to a school,a school were you must suffer much pain. Not many people graduate.
Those that want to be used by God for His glory need to be broken. Saul was God's chosen way to cruch David.
Anyways, your story reminded me of this book. Great story! So true
It's amazing what pain can do to a person. I am certainly no stranger to it. There is a certain joy to it when you think about it. It means life. It means feelings. It may be hard to go through. It definitely hurts. Pain brings people closer. Pain brings us closer to Jesus. Pain helps deal with issues we may not know exist. However, in that there is Joy to be found.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good comments. I have not read the Tale of Three Kings but I have heard of it. I think I read part of it once. I can relate, in my own life, how sometimes God will use another person (such as Saul) to mold your character and ultimately prepare you for something greater! Yet, even in the midst of our pain, God gives us joy and draws us close to Jesus... David drew close to God through his pain and now we have so many Psalms that reflect his passionate relationship with God.
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