We do not hesitate to bring our hearts to God. In our quiet (and sometimes not so quiet) moments with Him, we cry out, giving spiritual voice to our deepest, most intense needs and desperations. In faith we approach Him in the Throne Room, escorted by Jesus Himself. He is our Great High Priest, providing a foundation of confidence by which we approach God’s throne, receiving mercy, finding grace, and experiencing help in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

In this, we align ourselves with His Sovereign will, submitting to Him. We do not try to bend His will to meet ours, but our will is shaped according to His. Way too often, we may find ourselves committed to the notion that we can change God’s plan and will. There’s a reason God does not allow us to shape His intentions. If He did, I guarantee we would design a Both/And version of faith. We want both this AND that. Yet, God places us squarely in the Either/Or experience of faith and daily walk.

Do you think Joseph would have come up with the same series of events that would eventually lead to the rescue of his family during the great famine? Not a chance. We’re not wired that way. We do not insist on suffering. We accept suffering. We do not pursue misery. But we often go through misery so that we can see God’s full plan unfold.

Joseph had a dream – a vision from God – in which it seemed that his parents and his brothers would bow down to him. In his youthful naivete, he told his family about the dream. It didn’t sit well with his brothers.

Let us imagine that God invites Joseph to the planning session, weaving the future that will lead to his placement in a position of authority, ruling over his brothers and entire family. Here’s what Joseph would not have recommended:

• Have the brothers hate me in their jealousy.
• They’ll hate me enough that they’ll want to kill me.
• When I’m 17 years old, they’ll throw me into a pit.
• They’ll not kill me but will sell me into slavery.
• The Midianites will sell me as a slave in Egypt.
• I’ll work for an officer of Pharaoh.
• His wife will invite me to have an affair.
• When I refuse, she’ll accuse me of trying to rape her.
• I’ll be tossed into prison, remaining there for more than a decade.
• Finally, when I’m thirty years old, I’ll be released from prison into the service of Pharaoh.
• I will rise in power, overseeing preparations in Egypt for a coming severe famine that will devastate not on the Egyptians, but neighboring countries, tribes, and families.
• And that’s how it will come about that my family will come before me and bow down, not realizing it is me they pay homage to.

Who would choose that? No one. But who would accept that? Joseph did. In our human limitations, we would like to have the growth and advancement in our spiritual walk while also experiencing peace, lack of conflict, and a nice dose of comfort. I’m not slamming us for this. That’s our nature. However, the nature of the Christian, a true follower of The Way, is to accept God’s path for us and grow through it, even though it’s hard and painful, often demanding a high price.

So, what is the either/or reality for Joseph? “Do I remain faithful or not? God has shown me that some day I’ll be in a position of power and authority. It sure doesn’t feel like, sitting in this Egyptian prison…for years.” But Genesis 39:21 says that God was with Joseph while he was in prison, showing him steadfast love. God’s steadfast love can be a hard experience. Joseph chose faithfulness over the options that might have eased his burden. That’s what landed him in jail in the first place.

Next week we’ll spend a little more time with Joseph and his choices. Even in how he named his sons, he demonstrated his trust in God.