Set apart: Advent Dec. 9

"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."  -Genesis 50: 20

Love these words from pg. 79:

"What was intended to tear you apart, God intends it to set you apart.  What has torn you, God makes a thin place to see glory." (Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift)

There may be pain in the past.  Places where you wore thin from stress or worry, pain or sorrow.

Joseph had every reason to hate his brothers and want to hurt them, bitterness could have been his just response.  But in the pain, he found a Dwelling Place.

He didn't know the reason for the pain until years down the road when he said to his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good."  He looked back, saw all the hurtful things done to him, and saw that God had called him apart.  He was meant to save lives, even when his life seemed lost.

Joseph may not have known what the future held, but he knew Who held his future.  And Who holds all our futures, and our pasts, and our presents.  There is a reason for the struggle, we may not see that reason for a long time, but God is still with us, no matter what.