Daily Devotions
On the Blessings & Not the Scars
Reading for January 14th: Genesis 41-42
Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house." The name of the second he called Ephraim, "For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."
Genesis 41:51-52
It's so easy to focus on the negative. There were plenty of negatives in Joseph's life. Even after Pharaoh elevated him to his right hand in the kingdom, there were still scars left on Joseph's heart. How could he forget the pain of being sold by his brothers. How could he forget the grief of being separated from his father?
But Joseph did exactly this, and he did it because he chose to do so. When you experience tragedy in life, there comes a point where you have a choice to make. You can choose to live in the past. You can continue to feel sorry for yourself. You can choose to dwell on what could have been but will never be. Or you can choose to move on.
But how do you move on?
Listen to these words from the apostle Paul (who also had a lot of heartbreak in life): "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
The births of Joseph's sons did not remove the scars from his heart. What these births did is remind Joseph of God's blessings in the midst of his afflictions, and Joseph CHOSE to focus on the blessings and not the scars.
That is the secret.
Father, thank You for reminding us every day of your love and care for us. Help us to focus on the blessings by giving you thanks and praise.
