OVERCOMING CIRCUMSTANCES
by Kathy Pegram

 

His great grandfather, Abraham, was from a heathen nation. A man who was known to distort the truth on more than one occasion. His grandfather, Isaac, didn't mind causing trouble at home by letting it be known that his son Esau was his favorite. His father, Jacob, was known as a deceiver. A man who stole his own brothers birthright by lying to and tricking his own father. A man who evidently didn't learn from his father, Isaac, about the mistakes of choosing favorites. His brothers hated him, were jealous of him and wanted to kill him. They didn't believe in his dreams. All they knew was, he was their father's favorite and they wanted to get rid of him once and for all.

By now, I'm sure you know who I am talking about, don't you? Joseph. Joseph, the man of many different descriptions. Maybe his coat of many colors was prophetic concerning his future. He was a shepherd, a slave, a convict and even a ruler. No matter what circumstances came his way, he responded positively. He didn't let the events in his life hold him down or even hold him back. Joseph was a man who relied upon God through every situation. And God took those situations and made something out of each and every one of them. He took every evil thing that happened to Joseph and turned it around for good.

Joseph overcame sexual temptation; he overcame being thrown in prison; he overcame being betrayed by his own family, and on and on it goes. He went from having his robe stripped off of him and being thrown into a cistern, to having robes of linen placed on his back. He went from a pit to having a signet ring placed on his hand and a gold chain around his neck. He went from an outcast to being made ruler over Egypt.

Potiphar's wife wanted Joseph in her bed. But no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't seduce Joseph. Do you want to know what the secret to his overcoming power was? He didn't keep refusing her because of Potiphar, he refused her because he didn't want to sin against his God!

Jealousy and sexual sins, two sins that are destroying a world today. Two sins that could have destroyed Joseph. Yet, Joseph had complete trust in God. His circumstances didn't cause him to throw up his hands and quit, they just made him trust God even more. Joseph truly believed that what others meant for evil, God would use for good. Joseph was a man who overcame his circumstances. Through faith in God, he was able to come out of his bondage and into his destiny.

What about you? Is there a betrayal in your life? Are you battling jealousy or temptations? Do you need help resisting? Whatever your circumstances, the God of Joseph is the God that still reigns today!

 

Love and Prayers,
Kathy