All things to work together for good to those who love God

[2ndAmendment]

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Ever wonder what the heck God is doing? I just went through a bout of that ... and over something as trivial as an election. Forgot that God has a plan and if I trust Him, everything will work out OK.

Read the account of Joseph. Genesis 37-45.
Quick synopsis:

• Joseph favored by father and given many colored coat.
• Brothers get jealous of Joseph.
• Joseph is sent by father, Israel, to find his brothers.
• Joseph goes out to find brothers.
• Brothers, except Reuben, plan to kill him.
• Reuben convinces brothers not to kill Joseph.
• Brothers toss Joseph in a pit.
• Brothers sell Joseph to a caravan headed for Egypt.
• Brothers tear and put blood on Joseph's coat and ask Israel if the coat is Joseph's.
• Israel thinks Joseph is dead.
• Joseph finds favor in Egypt and become a very powerful person. Pharaoh made him a ruler of Egypt.
• Famine hits land of Canaan where Israel, also know as Jacob, and Joseph's brothers live.
• Israel sends brothers to Egypt to buy food.
• Joseph disguises himself and insists that Simeon, one of his brothers, remain and that the brothers return and bring the young brother that remained remained behind to Egypt. He sends them away with some food.
• Brothers comes to Egypt.
• Joseph eventually reveals himself as their brother.
• Pharaoh sends for Israel and his family and gives them some of the best land in Egypt.

There are many accounts like this.

When times are tough, remember, faith is strengthened in the hard times. That is why when I pray for increased faith, I ask God to, "please do it gently."

Remember, all things to work together for good to those who love God.

[aosmiles]

Go back to what you said about God having a plan for you. Joseph did not go through all that stuff just so we have a cool Bible story about him having bad things happen to him and him overcoming them. I think you know this. Joseph had to have those things happen to him so God's will could be perfected in Joseph. If those things did not happen, then Joseph would not have been there to help Egypt and surrounding lands through the famine. God does have awesome ways, does He not? That was God's plan for Joseph and he rose to the occasion quite nicely.

[BrassieChic]

Praying for it "gently" . What a good idea. Maybe that's what I've been doing wrong. Thanks!

[2ndAmendment]

Originally Posted by aosmiles

Go back to what you said about God having a plan for you. Joseph did not go through all that stuff just so we have a cool Bible story about him having bad things happen to him and him overcoming them. I think you know this. Joseph had to have those things happen to him so God's will could be perfected in Joseph. If those things did not happen, then Joseph would not have been there to help Egypt and surrounding lands through the famine. God does have awesome ways, does He not? That was God's plan for Joseph and he rose to the occasion quite nicely.

God absolutely has awesome ways. He knew Jacob and his family would be in hard times and placed Joseph where he needed to be to help out. It took years to fulfill.

I know that one of my faults is I want to see the results now. We live in a time of microwave ovens, fast food restaurants, and big credit lines. We want what we want and we want it now. God is infinite and timeless. His time is not our time. He promised Abraham to bless his people. It was not until Joshua led the Israelites into the promised land centuries later that the promise was fulfilled. We don't like to wait. God does everything at exactly the right time.