Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s look at how adversity is a part of God’s plan to make us better than we began.

In today’s scripture, Genesis 37:18 (NLT), we read about a murdererous plot…
When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him.

And in Genesis 50:20 (NLT) we see a divine contrasting thought…
You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

Consider…
The story of Joseph is a familiar one. He was favored by his father and hated by his brothers. And like another sibling dysfunctional relationship, Cain and Abel, Joseph’s brothers sought to kill him. Interestingly, both of the murderous plots stemmed from jealous thoughts. Rather than strengthen their relationships with their father, the brothers sought to eliminate the favorite brother.

Unfortunately these same dysfunctional relationships are prevalent today. That’s why James 4:2 (NLT) tells us…
You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

Like both sets of brothers, many brothers and sisters in Christ choose to focus on eliminating others because of what they have, rather than asking their Heavenly Father for what their own heart’s desire. Or, dare I say, like Paul, learning to be content no matter what. (Phillipians 4:11-13).

Resuming our recollection of Joseph’s story, we know that he was…

• Sold into slavery
• Falsely accused
• Imprisoned
• Forgotten by fellow inmates

There’s no question that life for Joseph was no “crystal stair”. Life for the Apostle Paul, was similarly full of adversity. He chronicles some of his adversities in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

Let’s be honest, adversity is an unpleasant part of life that we all will experience. In fact Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows…” – John 16:33a NLT

However, when we turn the record over, we hear…

• Jesus also say, “…But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33b NLT
• And Paul exclaim, “That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT
• And Joseph tell his brothers, in today’s second verse, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.”

Could it be, the secret to enduring adversity is recognizing that it may be anointed and appointed by God for our good? After all, Romans 8:28 (NLT) explains…
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

And we find encouragement from 1 Peter 5:10 (NLT), which says…

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

These verses, coupled with the testimonies of Jesus, Paul and Joseph, bring me to the conclusion, anointed and appointed adversity is in God’s plan. Just now, the Holy Spirit gave me the image of a Clam irritated by a pebble of sand. Because of that irritation, women all over the world enjoy fine pearls. Could it be God allows adversity to transform us from pebbles of irritating sand to cultured pearls for Him?

Regardless of God’s reasoning, we know that because adversity is part of His plan, it will leave us better after we go through it.

Today’s song is…
All In His Plan

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)