This podcast covers Lesson 2 of Profiles of Perseverance Bible Study by Melanie Newton.
God Is with You in the Pit
If you are in a time of life that is without crisis, now is the time to bulk up. Before a long race or big game, athletes are told to bulk up so that they will have energy to sustain them to the finish. Bulk up in the knowledge of God and in your relationship with God so that you will function well. That starts with knowing who God is and why you can trust Him with your crisis. He may not rescue you from every threatening situation, but there are 4 truths you can count on to get you through every single one of them.
1) God loves you.
2) God knows what is going on in your life.
3) God can do something about it.
4) You can trust His goodness in what He chooses to do.
The pit of rejection
- Joseph had a knowledge of God, a trust in Him, and a desire to be obedient to Him before he ever got thrown into the pit.
- Joseph’s brothers attack him, throw him into a pit, and sell him to slave traders. They turned a deaf ear to Joseph’s distress and pleading for his life. But, God rescued Joseph by sending that caravan at just the right time, going to the right place, and with those willing to buy this teenager for future sale.
- Rejection by family hurts. Jesus gets your pain. He knows exactly how you feel. You can tell Him all about it as you fix your eyes on Him. Jesus will comfort your heart and help you heal.
The pit of loss
- Joseph lost time with a loving father, his youth, his inheritance as the son of a wealthy landowner, and his freedom. Most of that could never be restored.
- The reality is that all the people in the Bible were real people with emotions and feelings just as we have today.
- We are quick to quote Romans 8:28, wanting that verse to mean that God will fix it so everything turns out rosy for our lives.
- Being in that pit hurts. We must live with the loss and move on. Joseph chose to function well in the pit of loss. He used his skills and abilities to persevere through it because he realized that God was with him in that pit.
God is with us in the pit
- God was with Joseph, actively involved for good in Joseph’s life. In the pit. In the rejection and loss. In the servitude and prison. He had God. He didn’t need anything or anyone else.
- Joseph didn’t know how the story would turn out. All he could do is trust God, and in the process, he got to know God and see the fruit of trusting him. Joseph chose to function well. Perseverance is functioning well in the pit.
- Most of the time we can’t see the reason why we went through an experience until a resolution comes. Then, we can step back and see how God helped, guided and comforted us through it all. But, for some situations, we may never know the reason until we get to heaven. No matter what happens to us on this earth, we know we will live a life of eternal joy and praise in God’s presence in heaven. This fact can comfort us and give us hope while we wait for that day.
- So, how do you persevere in the pit of rejection and loss? Whether you feel it or not, know that God is with you! He loves you, He knows what is going on in your life, He can do something about it, and you can trust His goodness in whatever He chooses to do.
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Romans 15:4, NASB).”
We can have hope because we have God with us. So, remember our lane markers for the race.
#1. Choose to persevere through every challenge.
#2. Count on God’s promise to give you hope.
#3. Let that hope sustain you through the rough-and-tumble of life.
#4. Celebrate the joyful reward.
Let Jesus satisfy your heart with hope so you can persevere through life.
Joyful Walk Bible Studies by Melanie Newton are available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.