Introduction
What if God had told Job that he was going to lose all that he did before it happened? That Job knew he would suffer so much for a short time?
What if Joseph knew from the time his brothers put him in the pit until he was second to Pharaoh—13 years—that he would be waiting on God to bring deliverance to his life after almost being killed, sold, lied about, then put in prison for doing the right thing in God’s favor?
What if God told us before we’re going to go through a season of suffering, on any level—physical, emotional, financial, marriage, grief of passing loved ones or loss of friendships, etc.—would our faith and deep grit stand through the fire? Would we come out on the other side or would we give up because we’re tired of fighting?
For most of us, our human side would come out first and say no God, please, please don’t let Satan drag me through the fire! Just tell me who I need to be or what I need to do on the other side of the fire of suffering and I’m all in! Just give me the “easy button” in life, right?
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. - John 10:10
I didn’t really know deeply what this verse meant until the last couple of years. Friends, there is a literal spiritual warfare in our world. Satan is attacking us on ALL sides. We must have our Armor of God on (Ephesians 6) every. single. day. It has to be intentional. Not perfect. Intentional.
Back to Joseph...going through all those years of “fire”...what if he hadn’t gone through that to be at Pharaoh’s right hand to save so many lives during the famine? But he did. Because what others meant for harm, God meant for good! Like gold and silver are refined in the fire. We are the same.
Have you ever stopped to reflect on a “fire season” or “valley” in your life...what others under the influence of satan meant for harm, but on the other side God turned it into something AMAZING at the end?!
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21
GOD IS ABLE! FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY THAN WE CAN ASK OR THINK!! Wow!! Read that again and just let it soak in!
We have lived out John 10:10 and Ephesians 3:20-21. William and I are going to share our story of the last three years, and even some before and also what God is laying in our future before us on the other side, because we feel like there are others in this world under real spiritual warfare and can find hope, encouragement, and healing in our “joy in the journey” and that God will be FULLY glorified in EVERY SINGLE STEP of this journey that we share. It is by God’s grace that we are writing this! We hope our story blesses you.
With much love,
