When Having a Set Back

Genesis 50:24, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Joseph is a tremendous example of having strong faith in God’s protection and that God would keep His promise of bringing the Israelites back to their homeland one day. Joseph spent a lifetime trusting in God’s promises. In verses 19-20 he said to his brothers, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” We see how God overruled human sin for His glory. That was and is a “but God” principle to place our hope, faith, and trust in. Joseph believed it wasn’t his responsibility or job to bring punishment or a payback against his brothers’ wrong treatment of him. He knew God was God, and any retribution was God’s responsibility. What a lesson that is in itself that no matter what wrong or evil someone does against us, God can use it for good. Trust in the overruling hand of God and pray for Him to intercede and exalt you in due time.

When do you find yourself having weak faith or filled with anxiety in dark times? It all plays over in your head again, and you are insecure once again. You may battle with feelings of paranoia as Joseph’s brothers did, after their father’s death. But remember, the roaring lion looks to pounce, set you back with fears, and tell you his lies of error. Don’t go there again. Check if you have experienced a lack of sleep. That could be part of the problem. Then, reach for the Psalms, as David often said, “I am in distress.”

• Psalm 31:9, “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.” Then, in verse 14, David declared: “But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”
• Psalm 18:6, “In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.”

In your moment of weakness, praise the LORD. Strong faith comes from intense trials, as Joseph had many of them, as did David. Perhaps Psalm 40:13-14 fits your situation:

• Psalm 40:13-14, “Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!”

Your worth is defined by what God says you are, for you are redeemed. Remember how faithful God has been for you in the past. Remember past battles that God provided and brought you through. Praise Him for those past provisions and His plans that you cannot see or know about in the future. God is with you in this challenge, temptation, and disappointment, as He was with Joseph; whenever people tried to hurt him, God turned it around and meant it for good. God raised Joseph in the status of a slave to a ruler of Egypt. Joseph was a man of integrity and was a target of others as he had a big future. Yet he could have had his big day of paybacks, yet he didn’t act on any of them. “God prevented Joseph from letting his arrows fly. And that is the key. You see, I can’t control the tendency to want to defend myself, to retaliate, to get revenge . . . Thus the only way to refrain from this tendency is to say, “Father, I want to stand up for my reputation, my right, my point of view. Restrain me, Lord.” Because those who find fault with you, those who come against you, those who shoot at you from a distance are ultimately instruments of God for your growth and for your good.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament.

 What is in your boat today? Ask God to rule and reign over your emotions as He is the prince of peace. Acknowledge that God is right beside you with His presence, protection, and provision. Whatever happens today, trust that God is at work. Trust in God’s promises when having a setback for God has the power to help or to overthrow (2 Chron. 25:8b).

Listen to Because Of Jesus (Lyric Video), Charity Gayle.