The title of this post is a common phrase heard among Mormons. I have found myself saying it to others in times of advice and I have definitely found myself saying it to myself when things aren't going well. But it's such a hard thing to remember when you're in the depths of trial or sorrow, right? I am currently reading the Old Testament as part of my 2018 goal to read all 4 standard works this year. The Old Testament is often meticulous and hard to get in to, but my most favorite stories seem to come from it. The story of Abraham is my absolute favorite in all of scripture- so many many lessons to be learned from him. Today, however, I want to talk about another favorite story of mine- Joseph being sold into Egypt by his brothers. Or Joseph and the many colored coat, if you will.
I hope this is a familiar story for everyone, but a quick brush up can't hurt, right? Joseph is the 11th of 12 sons of Israel (formerly Jacob) and is the oldest son of Jacob's favorite wife, Rachel. You know, the Rachel he worked 14 years for? Anyway. Joseph starts to have dreams that his brothers bow down to him, and he's also the favorite son (colored coat to prove it), which basically ends in a bunch of jealousy and hard feelings and he is sold into Egypt as a slave by his brothers.
To skip ahead in the story a little bit, he ends up in prison since his master's wife accused him of trying to lie with her, even though he was innocent. And there he spends years. Years! It is so easy to not realize this because the timeline is summed up in a verse in Genesis, but when you really think about it, this would have taken a lot of patience to endure. On top of thinking he would never see his family again and the whole being a slave in the first place thing.
The part that always impresses me the most about Joseph is that he never loses sight of what's truly important. He never loses his faith. And he credits God with everything. He has that eternal perspective. At the end of the story (once again, skipping ahead), after he has gained great power and such in Egypt and his brothers come and realize who he is, they obviously feel very guilty and sorry and ask for forgiveness. And this is the impressive part. Joseph tells them "Fear not; for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (Genesis 50: 19-20) Basically he's saying- this was all part of God's plan! Your poor choices still turned into good. If they hadn't sold Joseph into Egypt, then they wouldn't have been saved from the famine in Canaan all those many years later. So this had to happen to save his father's family. All things worked together for Joseph's good.
Sometimes we are victims to others' poor choices. And we feel trapped, even though we did nothing to get in that situation. But what a miracle it is that God still is able to bring things together for our benefit. His plan cannot be ruined by others' choices. I have definitely experienced this in my life. Where I have felt hurt and betrayed which resulted in me feeling like I can't experience happiness because what could have been is ruined by others. (A little "wo is me" attitude). Fortunately I have also experienced what Joseph describes as well. All things are possible to God. All Things. No, he won't take away anyone's agency, but He will make sure that all things will work together for our good. And once again, the atonement makes up for any hurt or betrayal we may feel.
So next time you feel like a victim, remember that. And also remember that waiting on the Lord is something that comes with the territory. Joseph waited years in prison. And years after that to see his family again. It was a long road, but one where he still managed to see the Lord's hand in all things. All Things. And that's why he was able to forgive his brethren so quickly and easily. Something I want to achieve one day.
The Lord is in the details of our lives. The good, the bad, the ugly. Often we write gratitude journals or try and focus on all the good things in our lives as signs that God is with us. But even the bad things in our lives have God in them. And those things are also a part of God's plan. They aren't things that happen despite of His plan. God's hand applies to all aspects of our life. And what a blessing that is, even if we can't see it at the time.
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