What I Have to Go Through to Get There

Genesis 45:4-5 NLT

Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'Come close to me.' When they had done so, he said, 'I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we stand before You today, humbly seeking Your wisdom and guidance. Open our hearts and minds to Your word, so that we may understand Your divine process. Help us navigate through Your plan with faith and courage. And as we embrace the path to our destiny, may we always remember that You are with us every step of the way. Amen.

Introduction

Story of what my godfather said about me going through some things.

This morning I would like to preach on the subject of “What I Have to Go Through to Get There”

Understanding the Divine Process

In the narrative of Joseph, we find a man who was sold into slavery by his own flesh and blood. Yet, he did not let his circumstances define him. Instead, he saw his situation through a different lens. He recognized that his trials were not random acts of fate, but part of a larger plan orchestrated by God.

God's plan often unfolds in ways that we cannot comprehend. We may find ourselves in situations that seem unfair, unjust, or simply unbearable. But we must remember that God has a purpose for everything. He uses our trials and tribulations to mold us, to shape us, and to prepare us for the roles we are meant to play in His plan.

Despite being sold into slavery, he rose to a position of power in Egypt. He could have sought revenge against his brothers, but he chose forgiveness instead. He understood that his suffering was not in vain. It was part of God's plan to save lives.

We have to understand that God works in a divine process. It involves recognizing God's hand in our trials and tribulations. When we face hardships, it's easy to question God's goodness or even if God is real. But we must remember that one God is real, and two He is always in control. He allows trials to come our way, not to harm us, but to build us and to fulfill His divine purpose.

Joseph never lost faith in God even though he could not see how the vision was going to happen. He trusted in God's plan, even when it seemed impossible to understand. When we face trials, we must remember that God is in control. He has a plan, and He is working everything out for our good. In those times of doubt, fear, and frustration, just let God be God!

The divine process involves embracing our role in God's plan. We are not mere spectators; we are players in the game. God has a unique plan for each one of us. He has given us talents, abilities, and opportunities that are meant to be used not for our story, but for His glory.

The divine process involves trusting in God's timing. God's plan often unfolds in ways that we cannot predict or control. We may want things to happen in our own time, but God's timing is always perfect.

At seventeen he saw where God was going to put him, and then he was sold into slavery. He spent years in Egypt before he rose to power. But he trusted in God's timing. He knew that God was in control, and he patiently waited for His plan to unfold.

It’s not all about you, the divine process involves recognizing the bigger picture. We often get caught up in our own problems and forget that we are part of a larger plan. But God sees the bigger picture. He knows how our trials and tribulations fit into His grand design.

Navigating Through God's Plan

In the tapestry of life, every thread, every color, every twist and turn is part of a grand design. This design, this plan, is not ours but God's. It's a plan that often seems mysterious, a path that often seems winding and uncertain. But as we navigate through God's plan, we find that every step, every stumble, every victory and defeat, is part of a divine process that leads us to our destiny.

In the heart of this process, we find Joseph, a man who was sold into slavery by his own brothers. He found himself in a foreign land, stripped of his freedom, his dignity, his identity. But in the midst of his trials and tribulations, Joseph held onto his faith. He held onto the belief that he was part of a bigger plan, a divine process that was leading him to his destiny.

This belief, this unwavering faith, is what guided Joseph through his trials. It's what gave him the strength to endure, the courage to persevere, the wisdom to understand that he was not a victim of circumstance, but a vessel of God's divine process. This is the essence of navigating through God's plan. It's about understanding that we are not mere pawns in a cosmic game, but active participants in a divine process that is leading us to our destiny.

Now, let's take a closer look at the word "sent" in the passage. In the original Hebrew, the word used is "shalach," which means to send, to stretch out, to let go. This word is used in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, often denoting the act of sending or commissioning someone for a specific task or purpose.

In Exodus 3:10, for example, God tells Moses, "So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." Here, the word "sending" is the same Hebrew word "shalach." Just like Joseph, Moses was sent, stretched out, let go, for a specific purpose, for a divine task.

In the same way, we too are sent, stretched out, let go. We are commissioned for a specific purpose, for a divine task. We are part of a bigger plan, a divine process that is leading us to our destiny. This is the essence of navigating through God's plan. It's about understanding that we are not mere pawns in a cosmic game, but active participants in a divine process that is leading us to our destiny.

As we navigate through God's plan, we must remember that we are not alone. We are guided by the Holy Spirit, who gives us wisdom, strength, and courage. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, who cheer us on, who encourage us, who remind us that we are part of a bigger plan, a divine process that is leading us to our destiny.

And finally, as we navigate through God's plan, we must remember that we are not defined by our circumstances. We are not defined by our trials and tribulations, our victories and defeats. We are defined by our faith, our trust in God, our belief that we are part of a bigger plan, a divine process that is leading us to our destiny. This is the essence of navigating through God's plan. It's about understanding that we are not mere pawns in a cosmic game, but active participants in a divine process that is leading us to our destiny.

Embracing the Journey to Destiny

Embracing the path to our destiny, dear friends, is an invitation to participate in the divine process. It's a call to action, a beckoning to step forward in faith, to trust in the wisdom of the Almighty, and to align our steps with His divine orchestration.

The divine process, you see, is like a master weaver at work. Each thread of our lives, each moment, each joy, each sorrow, is intricately woven into the tapestry of our destiny. The weaver doesn't discard any thread, no matter how seemingly insignificant or painful. Instead, He skillfully weaves it into the grand design, creating a masterpiece that is uniquely ours.

In this divine process, we are not passive spectators but active participants. We are called to cooperate with God, to yield to His guidance, and to align our will with His. This is not a passive surrender but an active submission, a conscious decision to let God take the lead in our lives.

The first step in this process is to acknowledge God's sovereignty. God is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the one who sets the course of our lives and guides us along the path. As the Psalmist declares, "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me" (Psalm 138:8). This acknowledgment of God's sovereignty is not a resignation to fate but a declaration of trust in His wisdom and goodness.

The second step is to cultivate a heart of obedience. Obedience is the key that unlocks the door to our destiny. It's the willingness to say 'yes' to God, to heed His voice, and to follow His lead. As the respected Christian writer, A.W. Tozer, once said, "The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One." When we obey God, we are not losing out on anything; instead, we are gaining everything that truly matters.

The third step is to persevere in faith. The path to our destiny is not always smooth. There will be trials and tribulations, setbacks and disappointments. But we must not lose heart. We must persevere in faith, holding on to the promise that God is with us, that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

The final step is to live with an eternal perspective. Our destiny is not confined to this earthly life. We are citizens of heaven, and our true destiny lies in eternity with God. This eternal perspective gives us the courage to face the challenges of life, knowing that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

So, dear friends, let's take these steps together. Let's acknowledge God's sovereignty, cultivate a heart of obedience, persevere in faith, and live with an eternal perspective. Let's embrace the divine process and step into the destiny that God has prepared for us. Let's take action, not tomorrow, not next week, but today. For the divine process is not a future event but a present reality. It's happening right now, in our lives, in every moment, in every decision we make. So let's seize the moment, embrace the process, and step into our destiny.

Conclusion

As we close our gathering today, let's carry with us the profound truth we've explored together. God's divine process is not always easy to understand or navigate but rest assured, it is always rooted in His infinite love and wisdom. Like Joseph, we may face trials and tribulations, but let's remember that God is always at work, even in the midst of our struggles. He is weaving together a beautiful tapestry of our lives, and every thread, every color, every knot, has a purpose.

God's love for us is unchanging, unwavering, and unconditional. He is our refuge and strength, our ever-present help in times of trouble. He is the author and finisher of our faith, the one who guides us on the path to our destiny. So, let's continue to trust in Him, to lean on His understanding, and to surrender our lives to His will.