Turning Struggles into Spiritual Stamina
- Scripture: Genesis 50:15-21
15 And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. 16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. 19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
Key points to remember:
Stay the course in spite of the obstacles and distractions
Know that there will be opposition in your path as you move toward fulfilling your purpose
Do not ignore your problems, face them head-on!
Assignment:
List 3-4 strengths God has given you to fulfill your purpose. What do you know you are capable of doing to accomplish God’s purpose for your life?
As you work toward actualizing your purpose, think about the areas of your life that you may need to work on in order to walk in what God has destined for you to do and be. What might you need to focus on in order to tap into your purpose
What are some consequences of working and walking toward your purpose? In like manner, what may be consequences of not working toward your purpose?
Reflect on and document your progress to fulfilling your purpose. Distinguish your short-term and long-term purpose goals and write down your accomplishments and challenges so that you know what you need to work on and move toward
Incorporate a specific petition regarding your purpose in your personal prayer time. What are you asking God to help you with? What are you thanking God for?