The Joseph Principle

Do you think your family might be a little dysfunctional?
Do you think you have faced some unfair experiences in life?
If so, what's your underlying thought about it all?
It's not fair.
I can't be anyone important now.

Forget life, it's all messed up anyway.

Suppose your family was so dysfunctional that while your parents were out of town, your siblings blindfolded you, put you in the trunk, and dropped you off on the beach in Galveston.
A group of people picked you up and took you home.
You found out they were a group of politicians who were cleaning up the beach.
They decided to introduce you to their leader, Governor Perry.
He really liked you.
He put you to work in his office.
You made some really good choices.
You continued to promote in the political world until you became Perry's personal advisor.
You literally ran the great state of Texas.
One day a hurricane hit Houston (imagine that).
There was no food, no water, and NO ELECTRICITY. (imagine that)
It was discovered that the city would remain like this for a year.
People were coming to you from Houston begging for help.
One day this person showed up at your office.
You recognized his voice but not the face.
You listened as he begged for help for him and his family.
As he described his family, the light went on. You realized, it was your brother.
The one who left you on the beach all those years ago.
You told him to go home and bring back his family.
He was afraid of what you might do to him, but he was desparate.
He returned a week later, this time with his family.
As you saw the frail, starved family enter your office, tears began to fall.
It was your family. The ones you loved that you hadn't seen in a lifetime.
You say to the family, "It's me! The one you put in the trunk."
Your siblings froze. They had no idea what you would do next.
You opened your arms and hugged each one.
You forgave all they had done.
You opened your mouth to speak, and all you could think to say was,

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good."
You knew that no matter how bad things had been, God was in control.
He was in control when you were on the beach.
He was in control when you met the politicians.
He was in control when you were running the great state of Texas.

If we could ever learn, no matter what comes our way in life, GOOD & BAD, God intends it for good.

This is a mini-modern day version of the story of Joseph. (Gen. 37-50)

Joseph had the right perspective.

He never asked, "Why me?" or "Why this?"

Instead he humbly thought, "What do you want me to learn in the middle of this?

"What are you teaching me?"

Lord, what are you teaching me today?