Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
This passage of scripture teaches us the valuable lesson, that God takes into consideration, our expectations when planning the fulfillment of dearest dreams. However, in our anticipations, we should always leave room for Him to work out the fine details and the methods to be used in accomplishing our goals, for He alone is able to choose the best and safest route to success and victory. One of the important truths about God that we should ever treasure in our hearts, is the fact that He never withholds good things from those who put their trust in Him. In other words, if something is good for the righteous, then they are going to receive it from God. It's that simple. Let's read:
Psalms 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
The sacred truth of God's foreknowledge being implemented on behalf of His children was displayed in the experience of Joseph, who being sold into slavery through the treachery and malice of his brothers, ended up being the second highest ruler in the land of Egypt. However, the route God chose for him to get there was not the usual route that the average parent or counselor would have chosen. To the finite mind, the ways of God often seem unexplainable, until the end result is seen, and that's why the following text is of critical importance to the Christian in every experience of life. Let's read:
Hebrews11:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Joseph's route to success as permitted and orchestrated by God, included grief and sorrow at being separated from his family to be sold into slavery. It also involved managerial skills development, very sore temptations pertaining to adultery, attempted rape by his master's wife, false accusations against him, jail time for doing what is right, interaction with two of Pharaoh's officers, interpreting of dreams, and finally introduction to Pharaoh himself, by which he was then promoted to the second highest office in the land. Definitely not your average route to success, however it was all in the providence of God, and in and through it all, the Bible says that God was with Joseph. Let's read:
Genesis 39:2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
But as stated previously, God's providences for Joseph were not only comprised of success and prosperity, for as Christian's, we often experience sunny days and rainy days in the fulfillment of our fondest hopes and dreams. Let's read:
Psalms 105:17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: 8 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: 19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him. 20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. 21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: 22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
Every seeming obstacle in Joseph's path was actually a stepping stone to climb to a higher round on God's great ladder of success and victory. Therefore the entire record of Joseph's life story, contains critically important lessons for us living in the 21st century, where we often become impatient with God because He does not use the "Fast food" method that we've become accustomed to. God is always working behind the scenes in our behalf, bringing His foreknowledge and omnipotence to bear directly in the fulfillment of His good purposes towards those who trust in Him. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will encourage us to wait upon God, since He is always on time, and not fret or worry about the seeming perplexities or disappointments we may go through. Let's read:
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
May we learn the valuable lesson of trusting in the Lord always, for even though He may choose a different route to success than we have expected, yet His plans are time-proven to be always the best for His children. "Good night" and God bless!