If you watched the World Cup opener last night, you'll know it wasn't exactly a clean game. Mexico beat South Africa 2-0, but the headlines today are about the three red cards shown – the most ever in a single World Cup opening match. By the end, South Africa had nine men on the pitch and Mexico had ten.
This week I've been deep in the story of Joseph and it carries the same picture.
Joseph had a dream from God, just as those teams walked onto the pitch with a dream to win. For Joseph, almost immediately, everything seemed to work against it. Sold by his own brothers. Taken to a foreign land. Falsely accused. Forgotten in a prison cell for years. Down to far less than he started with, by any measure.
If God has spoken something to you – a dream, a word, a promise – there's something I want you to take from Joseph's story. It does not mean the road there will be smooth. Joseph's dream was real, and so was every single setback that followed it. Both things were true at the same time.
Verse of the Week
‘But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.’
—Gen. 50:20
By the end of his story, Joseph could look back and see God's hand in all of it. Not despite the setbacks – through them. God had been faithfully working it out the entire time, even through the years that looked like delay and the years that looked like loss.
That's what it means to come out of the shadows. Holding on to what God said, even when the evidence in front of you says otherwise.
God is faithful to bring to pass what He has spoken. The journey may not be easy, but He doesn't change His mind about you. Whatever has tried to knock you down this week, your calling hasn't changed. The dream God gave you is still His to fulfil. Don't give up. Don't let go of what He said about you.
Until next week,
Have a blessed day and keep shining! ✨
Cheryl
