Growing through the process

Problems and pain are things that I work hard to avoid. My guess is that you would say the same about yourself. When I start my morning and I think about my schedule and "to-do" list for the day I don't intentionally look for opportunity to add problems to my life.Problems often bring pain. But they also give us a chance to grow, learn, trust and progress.In Genesis we read about a young man who faced a series of problems:He was his dads favorite and had really cool clothes so his brothers hated him.His brothers threw him in an empty well. (This makes me glad that I had a sister)His brothers sold him and faked his death.He ends up in Egypt and gets sold again to be a slave.His masters wife lies about him and he ends up in jail, all for being good looking and honest.He helps some guys in prison by giving an interpretation to their dreams, then he is forgotten about.

But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love...Genesis 39:21

Often our focus can be on the PROBLEM when God is with us and growing us through the PROCESS.God walked with Joseph every step of the way.In the PITIn the PRESSUREIn the PRISONIn the PALACEProblems and challenges are going to come and go. The One who is walking through them with you will not; He is faithful. I'm sure that if we asked Joseph in the moment, he would have traded those challenges...we all would. Yet it was in the process that God was preparing him for what was ahead. Maybe with out the pit, pressure or even the prison he wouldn't have been ready for the palace.