Recently we launched the 2015 theme for Best Life Ministries: Get on Track. During the opening talk, Kathy Weckwerth shared about the story of Joseph. As she was sharing, I was reminded about a question I get from people all the time, “Where was Jesus when…?”
Bad things happen to all of us. That is the nature of living in a world with free will and an enemy who wants to steal, kill and destroy. So, where is Jesus when those things happen. It’s a valid question, but the answer isn’t always what we want to hear. God shows us exactly where He is through Joseph. In a nut shell, Joseph’s brothers through him in a pit and made it appear as though he was dead. They then sold him into slavery. (I encourage you to read the whole story. It’s pretty scandalous.)
39 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.
2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. (Genesis 39 NIV)
From slavery Joseph was thrown into prison.
19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.
But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. (Genesis 39 NIV).
Where was God? He was right there with him. God never left Joseph, not in the pit, not in slavery and not in prison. Where was Jesus when I was victimized by the icky neighbor? Right there with me. He was with me when I was hiding in fear. He was with me when I was told my 2 week old son needed heart surgery. He never left Joseph alone. He never left me alone, and He NEVER left you alone.
Maybe this is what has left you angry at God. He didn’t stop it from happening. He didn’t change the track that you were on. Nothing will ever make what the icky neighbor did okay. But, I wouldn’t change any of it. It is the track that God allowed for my life. Changing it would mean changing who I am today. Changing it would change my relationship with God, my husband and family. That’s not worth it to me. God has taken what was meant for destruction and used it for testimony and healing including my own.
Understanding and accepting that God was right there with you means accepting that God has a purpose and plan for your life, and a plan to prosper you (Jeremiah 29:11). Maybe you haven’t accepted the plan or seen the prosperity. Know you are right where you are supposed to be and God will get you where you are going. It is His promise. I know it’s not easy to trust that, but its worth it. He won’t let you down.
How do you stay and track when struggling with where is Jesus? Share here and we can encourage each other.