Adulting Week 2

Introduction

Recap: If you were with us last week we started a series called, “Adulting.” We said that just like his guitar works because of managed tension, that we have to learn how to manage the tension in our lives.

Last week we talked about balancing the tension between our work and our rest.

Tonight we want to continue by talking about another area where we must manage the tension.

Opening Story/Illustration: Back in 2005 my parents, who live in MS, were hit by hurricane Katrina. So the national guard came through and was handing out relief supplies, etc. One of the things they passed out was canned water. Like water, in an aluminum can. It was called Deja Blue. It was the weirdest thing. After the disaster recovery, my parents had some left, so they sent it back to college with me. It was strange because you were used to coke or soda coming out of a can. You’d go to drink it and your mind would play a trick on you. You expected a sweet, cola beverage. What you got, instead, was plain old water.

This is what I want to talk about tonight - Balancing our expectations vs. our reality. Many of us expected something different from our lives than what we got. How do we manage that tension so that we don’t snap or flop?

Transition to text: Perhaps no one else in scripture faced this disconnect more than Joseph in the old testament. We don’t have time to read his story, but you can find it in

Let’s some up his story real quick:

Joseph is a young man who is loved by his father.

His father loves him so much, it makes his other brother’s hate him.

Joseph has a dream that one day he will rule over people - In particular that he will rule over his family.

His brother’s naturally don’t like this, so they attempt to kill him, and then instead they decided to sell him into slavery.

He’s sold into the home of a man named Potiphar. He works hard, and pretty soon, he’s running the whole house.

The only problem - Mrs. Potiphar likes Joseph and she wants to sleep with him. He refuses and she accuses him of rape.

Now Joseph goes to jail. He’s there for a long time before two prisoners - the kings cupbearer and baker - have dreams. They are troubled by the dreams, but Joseph interprets them. One of them is going to die and one of them is going to be restored to his position. Joseph asks the one to be restored to remember him..he forgets him.

Years later, Pharaoh has a dream and he’s troubled by it. All of a sudden the cupbearer remembers Joseph and tells Pharaoh. Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream and is moved from prison to second in command of Egypt.

All of this took 22yrs.

So what do we do when it’s taking longer than we think it should? How do we balance our expectations or the promises of God vs. our reality?

Discussion

Trust God - Joseph kept his trust in God even when he didn’t understand what was happening to him. Over and over the text says, “God was with Joseph.”

We’ve got to remember that God is with us even when we don’t see it.

We’ve got to remember that God is with us even when our circumstances seem to say otherwise.

Your success or failure in life isn’t an indication as to whether or not God is with you!

Stay faithful - Joseph faithfully worked hard and steady even when he could have complained.

Keep giving it all you’ve got - wherever you find yourself.

For God’s glory and for your growth!

Be flexible - Joseph didn’t whine because it took longer than expected for God to fulfill his promise!

Your dream may not come true when you want it to

Your dream my not come true exactly the way you thought it would