God did not create us to just survive on the earth. God created us to THRIVE and live blessed lives.
This Blog Post is a series of four parts that will relate our present struggles to four characters in the bible – Joseph, Gideon, Peter, and the nameless widow who became a thriving Business Owner by trusting, believing, and obeying instructions from wisdom.
I will never forget years back, my Pastor (of old) pointed a few of us out, affirming that we were more than the job title we claimed. He said, "God has a plan for us to be more than that, to be great and impactful." Just recently, under my new Pastor, I was reminded that I must conquer the fear that impairs me from being and doing what God truly created me for…greatness!
Looking at the life of Joseph (one of the 12 patriarchs of Israel), I was inspired to write this blog post to be encouraged and inspire others to join in the journey of becoming the person God predestined and ordained to be great.
The Ending (A Thriver name Joseph!)
Joseph became a governor over Eygpt (only second to Pharoah), yet he advised Pharoah, being a son of Jacob (Israel). Read his story in Genesis starting in chapter 37.
I have purposely started with the end result because most people are more influenced by the results before accepting them as worthy of their time and energy.
Picture it ~ Joseph is living in a palace, married with two sons, and has just saved his family and countless others from death (by starvation).
By Canva
Joseph forgave his opponents and used his position to care for them. He explained that God’s favor was at work using their antics to reposition him for God’s use on a grander scale.
Don’t allow your feelings or attitude toward the people who caused you trauma to influence you to turn from God. Thrivers rejoice knowing that the Lord’s grace and mercy are perfected in our crisis.
Joseph,
“Don’t you see, you planned evil against me, but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people. Easy now, you have nothing to fear; I’ll take care of you and your children.” He reassured them, speaking with them heart-to-heart.” (Genesis 50: 19-21 The Message Version)
The Process (Trials and Tribulations transitioning from Survivor to Thriver)
Dream Killers
Many can relate to family hate, betrayal, and abandonment. In all truthfulness, we have played both sides of this coin. Joseph was the favorite son. He was given gifts and privileges that rubbed his siblings the wrong way. They planned to rid themselves of Joseph and his dreams.
Like you and I, Joseph had dreams!
However, not everyone believed nor took kindly to his dreams. The bible said the siblings beat and sold Joseph into slavery. Joseph was sold again into servitude to a high-ranking Egyptian official named Potiphar.
Reputation Killers
Now here is where the transitioning process begins to shine forth, and God’s workmanship takes form. Under Potiphar’s roof, Joseph’s work ethics begin to surface and prove worthy of trust.
Our work ethic is the key during the transitioning process!!
As we begin to improve our work ethics, the enemy also takes notice. Potiphar’s wife sought to seduce Joseph. When her attempts failed (because Joseph had reverence for God and Potiphar), she lied, causing him to be publicly humiliated, rejected, and imprisoned.
Joseph was cast into prison; his reputation tarnished, freedom confiscated by the jailer. His circumstances influenced the transition to take another turn. Joseph’s work ethics continue to stand out, but now God reveals the gift of dream interpretation. Pharoah’s staff members were cast into prison with Joseph. The two men had troubling dreaJoseph’seph’s God-given gift was revealed by need.
Added to our work ethics are God-given abilities during the transitioning process!!
Opportunity is in God’s hands, not people or circumstances.
It is by God’s divine intervention that the hidden talents are triggered to action. Here we are affirmed to be more than dreamers who have compromised our passions and aspirations to survive under a system that opposes our success. For instance, after Joseph interpreted the dreams, he asked that the one spared would remember him by putting in a good word to Pharoah about him.
Circumstances proved the Butler forgot about Joseph, and he sat in prison longer than he wanted. Joseph’s conscience and thinking did not sway him to doubt God’s abilities and character.
The sense of the transition is that we must maintain our level of reverence for God.
Reminding ourselves that:
God’s timely intervention will change our “right now moment” to opportunity.
The Procedure for displaying God’s workmanship and greatness
We are more than our job title or society’s labels! We are God’s workmanship!
Back to Joseph ~ we learn that now Pharoah has a troubling dream that triggers the Butler to remember Joseph’sGod’ssociety’s gift of interpreting dreams.
It is written, that our gifts make room for us:
“A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.”
(Proverbs 18:16 Jubilee 2000 Version)
When Joseph was remembered, he did not rob God of the glory by claiming he was gifted.
Instead, Joseph said,
“It is not in me; God shall give Pharoah an answer of peace.”
(Genesis 41:16 King James Version)
God Promises He will make us the Head and not the Tail; He will cause blessings to overtake us; He will bless all the work of our hands (Deuteronomy 28: 1-14)
I leave you with this, as Pastor told me, you already know what you have to do…Trust God and do it!!!
Be encouraged. Be great. Come out of survivor mode and walk in the mode of thriving!
~Your Brother in Christ 21
“A Session with your Brother”