WINSDAY WISDOM 221
There are too many kids having to grow up with trauma. We have much needed ministries striving to help them. I want to share one life story.
This youngster grew up in a dysfunctional family. It was a big family, lots of brothers and sisters. He was one of the youngest. His mother died when he was a little boy. His father was immoral, a thief, and habitual liar. He deceived and cheated his way through life. That was his role-model for life.
Besides his untrustworthy father, the boy was mistreated by his siblings. He was abused, bullied, resented, and unwanted. He grew up around crime. He had brothers who were murderers, and a sister who was raped. Some of the other brothers continuously lied to hide their wrongdoings.
Eventually, he became homeless. As a young man, he was in and out of prison. His early life was filled with manual labor and low-level jobs. He even cleaned toilets and mopped floors just to get by. There were bad bosses and undesirable circumstances.
He was hated, lied to, and lied about. He had no chance to make it in life, just left without help and hope—except for God’s plan.
In the midst of all the turmoil and trauma, he gave his life and circumstances to God. God molded him through the adversity and used him as a great vessel to help others all over the world.
Eventually he forgave and reconciled with his family and provided for their needs. He became rich and famous, but most of all he became a godly family man who lived and loved like Jesus.
His life was characterized by humility, holiness, happiness, and hope. He showed love and forgiveness to those responsible for his traumatic experiences.
God was with him, in him, over him, and under him. His love changed generations for the better.
HIS NAME WAS JOSEPH, A TRAUMA VICTOR…A HOPE POSTER. HE LEFT THIS LASTING LESSON FOR ALL OF US AS HE SPOKE TO THOSE WHO HAD MISTREATED HIM.
“You meant evil against me, BUT GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD, to bring about good for many people.” (#1 Textbook)
But God meant it for good.
That describes your life no matter wherever you are on the trauma-hope spectrum.
Hope is not an outcome…it is the ever-growing confident expectation of experiencing all the goodness God has promised…somehow…some way…some time.
Joseph discovered the answers to his questions were found in the person and character of God. When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You (Psalm 56:3).
Hope in God is grounded in the promises of God which are grounded in the person of God revealed in the Word of God.
Do not worry or envy those who cause so much trauma in your life. They will fade away like winter grass. Trust in the Lord and do good. Be kind to others. Trust God to help you. Be patient. Do not give in to anger, fear, or worry. The Lord directs every step and always holds your hand. Blessings are coming. God designed it all for your greatest good. Our hope is in God. There is a wonderful future ahead for you. What a different story! There is a happy ending. (Psalm 37).
What should you do in those moments of desperation where God is your only hope? Preach to your trauma-troubled soul…change your thoughts…change the source for your thoughts.
The only way to stop thinking about one thing is to begin to think about something else. Let me illustrate: Think about the number seven. Tell me when you are no longer thinking of the number seven. That is difficult because you continue to revisit the thought of the number seven, even while trying to move past it.
The same is true for your problems. Thinking about them spirals into fear, worry, anger, anxiety, depression. You must replace the negative thought with a positive thought. Replacement does not revisit. Change the source of your thoughts.
Learn to preach to your troubled soul from God’s Word. Remind yourself, “God is my one and only hope…my only rock…my only salvation…my only real hope. God is the solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul. Everything I need comes from Him. I will trust and hope in God” (Psalm 62:5).
What are the lessons passed on from Joseph to you and me? God is always faithful. Always! God is always with you and for you in every trial and trauma and trouble.
Joseph experienced a plethora of traumatic challenges. Hatred. Deception. Betrayal, Abuse. Abandonment. Persecution. Slavery. False accusations. Injustice. Imprisonment.
Joseph came through those traumatic things with forgiveness and without resentment. How? He eventually understood “but God meant it all for good.”
“All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
God has a purpose. That means you have hope!
Joseph eventually saw the bigger picture of his life. It was God-designed to be a benefit to so many more people than himself.
Take heart, my friend. You have not yet read the last chapters of your God-written story! Faith and Hope are always future-oriented. We often see the Lord’s goodness only thru a rear-view mirror.
Oh Lord, please give us a bigger perspective than a focus on our past or present troubles. Change our thoughts. Give us wisdom. Renew our faith. Strengthen our hope in the unchanging, unending faithfulness of God!
As I look back on the road I’ve travelled,
I see so many times He carried me through;
And if there’s one thing that I’ve learned in my life,
My Redeemer is faithful and true.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.
My heart rejoices when I read the promise
‘There is a place I am preparing for you.’
I know someday I’ll see my Lord face to face,
‘Cause my Redeemer is faithful and true.
And in every situation He has proved His love to me;
When I lack the understanding, He gives more grace to me.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.
Everything He has said He will do,
And every morning His mercies are new.
My Redeemer is faithful and true,
My Redeemer is faithful and true.
(My Redeemer is Faithful and True by Stephen Curtis Chapman).
LOVE FIRST...LOVE MOST 