When Our Dreams & Plans Are Delayed

This week I have been thinking about the life of Joseph. As I’m sure you remember he had dreams and plans for his future, but before any of these came to fruition he was sold into slavery by his brothers, was wrongly accused of adultery, and was imprisoned. He could have felt angry, questioned God and given up on his dreams, but actually he didn’t! When Joseph was in prison instead of raging and wallowing in self-pity, he did the opposite.

He continued to serve others from that place and he continued to lead as best he could.
We might despise the place we find ourselves in, but if we trust that God is ordering our steps* (which the Bible promises He is), we may be in a place of victory and not yet know it.

We haven’t chosen this season, it is where we find ourselves but we do have a choice of how we respond. We could wallow in self-pity (which to be honest I have done on some days) or we can continue to seek God and allow Him to grow us during this time.

What might He need to do in me to prepare me for all He wants to do through me when we are out of lockdown? This season will change me, but how it changes me is my choice! We could just see it as something to endure and get through, or we can be open to the lessons we can learn while we are in it, remembering that God is always with us.

Thinking of Joseph again, it was in that season of denial and delay that his pride and ambition died and the man who was to become great for the purpose of God was born.
What might God be teaching us right now in this lockdown season? To trust Him with our worries? To learn to hear His voice? To worship Him despite our circumstances? He promises that He never wastes a thing, so even though this Covid 19 is evil, He is Almighty God and He will bring good out of it.

Dear Lord, help me to be open to all You have to teach me during this lockdown season so that I might be ready to be used by You in new ways going forward. Amen 

God bless you

Love Caroline

*Proverbs 16: 9