Pain's Purpose

by E.L.

God allows you to experience some hurts to protect you from even greater pain.

Joseph's time in a pit was shameful, painful and, at the time, hard to understand. From there he was delivered into Egyptian slavery. He struggled to understand the purpose of his time as an Egyptian slave, but that bad experience allowed him to be falsely accused of rape. The rape charge landed him in prison.

Far away from family, and everything familiar, he sat alone with his thoughts, perhaps struggling to believe God would ever follow through on His promises - the same promises that had led to his troubles.

He could not have known that the pit, slavery and prison were the springboard to the fulfillment of his dreams and destiny...for in the prison his path connected to someone who would soon have the ear of the most powerful ruler on earth.

In the course of one conversation with Pharaoh, Joseph's address changed from prison to palace. He was given comfort, honor, privilege and authority. His dream was realized.

Sometimes your dream seems millions of miles away. It seems that it will take future decades to arrive at your desired destination.

A series of defeats cause you to struggle against despair and doubt God's promises. The favor of God seems far away. You feel abandoned. Punished. Cursed.

But then, in one miracle moment, God elevates you to your promise.
With God, all things are possible, and quickly.

Then you realize that He was there all the time.
Leading.
Guiding.
Ordering your steps.
And your perspective changes.

You realize that God was in the pit. He was in Potiphar's house. He was in the prison.

You realize the pit saved you from death.
That Potiphar's house showed you the nature of people.
That prison ushered you into the presence of the king.

And you praise.

This writing is the copyright of E.L. and is reprinted on this site by permission. View all of his available articles here.

Page added March 27, 2015

HOME / CONTACT / HOW DO I HELP? / OLD FEEDBACK / EXPERIENCES / UPC MEMBERS SPEAK / ARTICLES / BOOKS / ISSUES / LOIS' WRITINGS / ORGANIZATIONS / OTHER SITES /
WHY THIS SITE? / STATEMENT OF BELIEFS / WHAT IS SPIRITUAL ABUSE? / OPEN LETTER /
UPC BELIEFS / HISTORY OF UPC / APOSTOLIC CONGRESS / DEVOTIONALS/  SUPPORT GROUP/