Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?” (Genesis 50:19).
Have you ever wished you could make decisions for God? Or maybe, you’ve been on the other side of that and you’re so glad you’re not God because you would’ve made the wrong decision. Either way, I imagine we’ve all had similar thoughts.
The Bible says God’s ways are not our ways. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8). The New Living says, “My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine…” And aren’t we glad?
There’s more to this than you can see.
I have often told people God can see what we can’t and He knows what we don’t. This is a perfect example of why we don’t need to take things into our own hands, but instead put our situation, our fears, our anger, our grief, and even our suspicions, in the hands of God. In other words, we need to trust Him to take care of us.
Joseph went on to tell his brothers, who had sold him into slavery years before, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people” (Genesis 50:20).
When I am feeling frustrated, I try to remind myself that God is able to turn things for good— and not just for me. God always sees the bigger picture. No doubt the enemy has an agenda for harm, but if we’ll keep our heart right and our focus on Jesus, how can God use this situation? I’ve seen His faithfulness so it’s almost fun (once I get past my frustrations and fears) to watch God work.
Stay focused.
”Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). The Amplified says, “Set your mind and keep them set…” This is helpful. It’s one thing to rein in your emotions momentarily, but another thing altogether to keep your faith focused on God when the situation isn’t changing— or seems to grow worse.
So let me remind you again.
God can see what you can’t and He knows what you don’t.
God can be trusted. But your faith is required. He has given a promise of rest to those who believe Him (His Word). “So then we must be eager to experience this faith-rest life, so that no one falls short by following the same pattern of doubt and unbelief [of the those who died in the wilderness]” (Hebrews 4:11 TPT).
God could see the Promise Land. The children of Israel couldn’t. To enter in, they would have to go by faith. Unfortunately, they doubted, complained, tried to take matters into their own hands, and ultimately missed God’s best. And in His mercy, God’s Word tells us their story and says DON’T DO THAT.
Whatever you’re facing right now, I want to encourage you to lift your eyes. Make a conscious decision to look up and set your heart and your faith on God who is able to make all things work for your good. There is a bigger picture than what you are seeing right now and you can trust the One who sees it all.
