Help When You’re Hurting

Helping When You are Hurting

Introduction

As we study the life of Joseph, we see a young man who faced many injustices and painful experiences. Yet through it all, he held on to the vision God gave him of ruling one day. As a result, he never "charged God foolishly" or lost faith. He kept his trust firm in God through the circumstances that he faced which were simply preparing him for the promotion God had planned.

Psalms 105:17-19 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: 18 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.

We all face times of hurt and pain, and, if we are not careful, we can become so focused on our own problems that we neglect to see others around us who are also hurting. We forget that other people struggle, other people face trials, other people have been wounded by situations beyond their control - or someone else who treated them unfairly or abused them.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have been called to love and serve those around us and to let them see Jesus in our lives. We have been assured that there is purpose to our pain, there is hope for our hurt, there is a reason perhaps known only to God, for it all.

In Genesis 40, Joseph continues facing difficulties, but he does not allow his situation to sideline him from serving God and others. May we learn from the example of Joseph and remember that

God Gives Opportunities

Genesis 40:1-7 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. 3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward. 5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. 6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. 7 And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?

Romans 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

Turn your Focus Outward

Look for the Opportunities He Gives

Often, the best opportunity for you to be a good witness is when you are going through a difficult time. That is when your friends, family members, coworkers get to see the grace of God at work in your life to give you the strength to go through the hard times still rejoicing in His goodness.

Even though he too was imprisoned, Joseph turned his focus outward and noticed the distress the king's cupbearer and baker were experiencing.

He spoke to them. Sometimes, people just need someone to talk to. I heard about a woman who visited a nursing home one day. while she waited by the nurse's station for assistance, she noticed a lady sitting in a wheelchair with her head hung low and her arm resting on the counter.

As she waited, she stepped over to the lady in the wheelchair and said, "Hello! What's your name?"

At that, the elderly lady seemed to be infused with life. She lifted her head, look the woman in the eyes, smiled widely and said, "My name is Mary, and I'm a school teacher!"

That little story reminded me that everyone is important. Everyone is valuable to God. Everyone has difficulties. And many of them are left to suffer in silence because too many - even professing Christians - will not reach out to be an encouragement and let God work through us.

God gives opportunities. We just need to seize them!

Through his determination to seize the opportunities he was presented, Joseph was able to help these men understand how God was speaking to them. Are we willing to seize these God given opportunities and be a blessing to others?

Not only do we need to recognize that God Gives Opportunities, but we also need to

Let Others See Jesus

John 12:20-23 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Genesis 40:8-13 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. 9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; 10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: 11 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. 12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: 13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

God is the one doing the work, and He should receive all glory. Joseph did not have the ability to interpret dreams. He clearly pointed them to Jesus.

We are ok with Jesus getting the credit when we do poorly, but when we do a good job, we like for people to pat us on the back and tell us how we did good!!

Deflecting the praise to Jesus turns the focus to Him Who deserves it all in the first place.

- As Christians, our actions should reflect Christ in all that we do. People should be able to see Jesus in us, especially during times of hardship. Let us point others to the source of our strength and hope, which is Jesus Christ.

Remember, God is in Control

Genesis 40:14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: 15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. 16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head: 17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. 18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days: 19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee. 20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: 22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

The butler forgot all about Joseph, but there was One who was working on Joseph's behalf and working in Joseph to help him develop the patience and faith that he woudl need for the future plans God had for him.

Trust the Process!

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Trust His timing

Trust His plan

He sees our pain and our struggles, and He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Romans 8:26-28 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, let us be like Joseph in helping others while we are hurting. God gives us opportunities to be a blessing to those around us, to let others see Jesus in us, and to remember that He is always in control. May we be faithful in serving others, even in the midst of our own struggles, knowing that God will use our acts of kindness for His glory. Let us take heart and be encouraged by the words of Philippians 2:4, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Amen.

Takeaway: God gives us grace to do what He calls us to.