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It’s the end of the year. For a lot of people it is a time that we do inventory, looking at the year that has passed and thinking about the year to come.
Because Bible stories are true stories, we can definitely learn from Bible stories.
Genesis 40:1-23
The Lord was with Joseph, time and time again throughout this story we are told that God was with Joseph.
It seems like up to this time Joseph’s life was a series of steps “downward.” Everything he did seemed to end in disappointment.
After interpreting the dreams for the cup bearer and the baker, Joseph must have experienced another disappointment.
Would today be the day that the cup bearer remembered him?
Was today the day that he would get out of prison?
How do we deal with disappointment?
We should not be surprised by disappointment. If our expectations are set on people we will be disappointed.
If our expectations are based on earthly wealth… there is an excellent chance that we will be disappointed.
Joseph must have surely been praying this entire time, asking God to help the cup bearer remember him.
The Bible talks about lots of people who faced disappointment
- Abraham waited for a son
- Moses wandered for 40 years with the Children of Israel
We choose how we will respond when disappointed
It is super easy to have a victims mentality. Joseph chose not to take this route.
Joseph changed the legacy. He made the right choices. He chose to trust God. He chose to let God work in his life and heart.
Galatians 6:7, Leviticus 19, Romans 12, Romans 8:28
There are 3 basic choices of how to deal with disappointment.
1. We can retreat. Retreating is not a good response. God may be redirecting you, but he is not asking you to retreat.
2. We can seek revenge. Revenge is not a good response. It is easy to hold a grudge. It’s a miserable way to live. It’s not God’s way to live.
3. We can seek renewal. Romans 8:28 is not vague at all… in ALL things God is working towards the good of those who love him.
Joseph believed that God was working towards his good. Joseph chose renewal. We can choose renewal.
- We need to trust God in his timing. John 11:1-57
- We need to focus on others and their needs.
- Find the opportunities instead of focusing on the disappointments.