Opportunity Knocks
By Elin Henderson
“But as for you, you meant evil against me [Joseph]; but God meant it for good…”
Genesis 50:20a
Have you ever felt envied for what you have, even if you had little to nothing to do with acquiring it? How about feeling cast down, like you’ve been thrown into a pit and left to die? How about betrayed? Maybe even wrongfully accused? Have you ever felt abandoned, left up on the shelf while the good years of your life waste away? These are just a few of the feelings that must have come upon Joseph. Yet, he is a case study in enduring suffering and coming forth as gold. By Elin Henderson
“But as for you, you meant evil against me [Joseph]; but God meant it for good…”
Genesis 50:20a
I have to think that what made all the difference for Joseph was his outlook (or rather uplook). He chose to see problems as opportunities. When we look at difficulties through our own human eyes, they are simply “problems,” but when we can look at them through divine eyes, we can understand and see them to be “opportunities.” At times God may desire to use it to show Himself strong on our behalf, His grace sufficient. Still other times, He may be at work within us, making us more like Himself. Whatever the opportunity, His plan is the same: our good…His glory!
Next time you feel like life has taken another serious dip and nothing is going right, remember that the things we see as problems are actually opportunities for us to trust in the perfect plan of our gracious Heavenly Father who knows the end from the beginning and the good plan for our lives.
When opportunity knocks, are you listening?
GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you facing any problems right now that could be seen as opportunities? Commit them to the Lord and rest in the fact that He works all things for good.
2. If you were to read through Genesis 45 when Joseph retells his story, you’d note how many times he refers to God and His goodness. How does that challenge you in telling your story?
FURTHER READING:
Genesis 37-50 (Joseph’s story); Romans 8:28
Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to nine-year-old Callie and six-year-old Elias.
