She loses her job this week and walks away with one less key on her ring and a feeling of loss in her heart. It happens so fast. Abrupt, sudden, and unexpected. Everything becomes ordinary all at once, and none of it is easy at all.
After years of giving with grace and mentoring with maturity, it is over.
No transition.
No passing of a baton.
No party or celebration.
Just an end. Sitting with loss and meditating on what was. Wondering what will be beyond even this.
We talk and text. And I pray.
And I’m reminded of Joseph and the way our God takes the ordinary pieces of our now, and makes something extraordinary in His time.
And for Joseph, his extraordinary begins with pain.
Abandoned and betrayed.
Forsaken and left alone.
And to make matters worse, it’s his own family who betrays him.
The ones with whom he’s most familiar.
The ones who’ve know him so long.
The ones who are supposed to love him most.
There he stands in a hole in the ground, with hIs robe gone and completely empty-handed.
And it’s then, when he can’t even defend himself, his own brothers sell him into slavery, as if he means nothing to them.
But with God, there is purpose in our pain … a purpose to work even painful things, for our good. [Tweet that]
You planned evil against me, but God used those same plans for my good… Genesis 50:20 (MSG)
In time, Joseph’s betrayal leads to blessing, for both him and his brothers.
His abandonment brings adoration, as he thanks God for his new position and his brothers thank him for their rescue.
And his uncertainty becomes hope, as they avoid famine because of his leadership, and journey toward the promised land.
The one forsaken has become the one to follow.
The ordinary slave, has been transformed to an extraordinary leader.
Pain brings a dependence on God that changes our perspective.
And amidst the painful ordinary of the now, God has something EXTRAORDINARY in store. [Tweet that]
Even amidst our pain, God is still good, and we are still loved.
And I am praying even now we will turn and run to Him–resist our resentment and run, especially in our pain.
And eagerly wait for all the extraordinary things He has in store.
What is something extraordinary God has done through your pain?
What are you facing now? How can I pray for you?
I’m joining Lisa-Jo, over at her site today, to just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. The challenge is to write with the prompt she gives. And today, her prompt:
Ordinary…
I love how our thoughts are so similar in this! God is big… there is joy in knowing that when we tread the parameters of grace in such a time as loss, God is holding our hand through the storm, knowing that we need to go through the process… because all of this happens for His greater glory! Rhea here from fmf!
I love your words today. I often say there is purpose in our pain and use Genesis 50:20 to back it up. I know this to be true because I’ve seen the hand of God work in my own life through pain I’ve suffered. Beautifully written! I hope I get a chance to meet you at Allume. Have a wonderful weekend!
Joseph’s story is one of my favorite. I always wanted to have a heart that trusted in every circumstance like his did…from rejection by those closest to unjust shackles. May I honor my King as he did…
Truly words birthed from your heart. While it is difficult to – know. feel. see. – God will use our pain for good; He never fails. There is always the silver lining. One making the ordinary cloud; extraordinary.
Blessings, Jacque and to all.