Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
May 12, 2023
Genesis 50:15-21
15 When Joseph’s brothers realized that their father was now dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us, and wants to pay us back seriously for all of the terrible things we did to him?” 16 So they approached Joseph and said, “Your father gave orders before he died, telling us, 17 ‘This is what you should say to Joseph. “Please, forgive your brothers’ sins and misdeeds, for they did terrible things to you. Now, please forgive the sins of the servants of your father’s God.”’” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers wept too, fell down in front of him, and said, “We’re here as your slaves.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I God? 20 You planned something bad for me, but God produced something good from it, in order to save the lives of many people, just as he’s doing today. 21 Now, don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.” So he put them at ease and spoke reassuringly to them.
Good Morning; God takes what is bad and produces something good!
From the ashes . . . arises a new beginning! No one would have asked for the fire at Rose Park, but as we continue to navigate restoration, we see glimpses of God’s glory at work. As a church family, we have received so many blessings in the form of support, services, replacement items, and donations to help with the restoration. God takes the bad things that people do and transforms them into beauty. “To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. ” We must keep focused on what is good, what is holy, and use that to guide us on our path.
Harold Kushner, a rabbi, wrote: “When Bad Things Happen to Good People.” God doesn’t cause bad things to happen so that we can learn a lesson. When we face a traumatic event, we sometimes need to sit and ask “why” or have a pity party. We even have moments of anger, and sometimes this anger is directed at God. We get mad and shout, “God, why would you let such a thing happen?” I remember a family many years ago who had a baby who died tragically. There was some rift between the families of the parents. I heard friends, and even the pastor say that the loss of the child was God’s way to bring these families back together. Oh my, I was heartbroken. I knew my God would not be this callous to solve their problems this way. Because a tragedy happened, God would use this opportunity to help these families find healing.
When we see others in need, we have a desire to help. This is good, but we have to avoid trying to determine “why” this happened and focus on how to help. Behind every tragedy is someone suffering who could use a shoulder to cry on, a hot meal, a kind word, or even a text message with “I was thinking of you.” We can help and respond to tragedies by moving forward when we stop idly wondering “why.”
As a man of faith, Kushner thinks people rise up to withstand suffering with God’s help. Maybe they can rise above these sad occasions all on their own, too. There doesn’t have to be a good or knowable reason for each problem with face in order for us to move forward from them wisely.
In Isaiah 63:9, In all their suffering, he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy, he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. Pain is pain and it is real, and it shapes who we are and how we respond to the world.
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23 When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds, you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:21-24
That is what Peter is trying to get us to understand. How we live with suffering and acknowledge God’s presence in our suffering is what makes us able to endure. He argues there is a presence, a guardian of the soul, the Holy Spirit, that gives us hope.
In other words, we are called “to make lemonade” out of the lemons that are thrown at us. Don’t let the lemons rot and create a stench; instead, use the lemons to make something good.
Blessed God, We thank you for Your blessings. When we are struggling, you are there. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, you lead us to see the beauty you place before us. Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: “In all things, God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28).
See the possibilities! Pastor Liz
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