A few years ago someone pulled me aside and filled my ears with their emotional upheaval. It was all over something I had done. I believe they felt left out of an activity we had done, and they poured out their grievance on me. It was hurtful and painful to hear.
Have you been there? Of course you have. It’s life. Situations like these happen all the time…
- Bitter, ugly words are poured out and they sting like no other kind of wound because they penetrate so deeply.
- Unthoughtful gestures hurt feelings, making a person feel unloved and forgotten.
- Cruel physical acts are committed against innocent people, damaging them and changing their lives.
Think about those three bulleted statements above and how they were a part of Joseph’s life in the book of Genesis. Genesis 37:8 tells us of some of the ugly words that were spoken to Joseph:
And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
Verses 23 and 24 tell us of some of the mean acts done him:
And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; And they took him, and cast him into a pit.
Genesis 40:23 is the truth of unthoughtfulness from a man in the prison who could have helped Joseph, but forgot about him!
When hard things happen to us, at that time we think we’ll never get over it. It seems this has changed our life forever. Some may say, “I’ll never be happy again.”
Recently as I was reading through Genesis, I read Joseph’s testimony about his healing. He said in chapter 41:51,
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.
All the ugly words, mean actions and thoughtlessness of others was forgotten! How so? God had given him the blessing of a son. Along with that, he’d been restored and even promoted by the Pharaoh and given a wonderful godly wife. Those blessings all came from God’s loving hands. Focusing on the blessing, Joseph forgot the trials, heartache and grievances from his past.
Whatever difficult thing you’re going through now will not last forever, and God will, in His time, allow you to have a vague remembrance of the details of it all – especially when you focus on His goodness rather than the painful situation. Need a starter? One of the greatest blessings to dwell on is that God chooses to forget our sin!
Jeremiah 31:34 says, For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
If God can forget our sins and can cause Joseph to forget the sins of his brothers, He can help you and me to do the same! God helps us, but we must do our part to forgive by focusing on God’s blessings, rather than on the hurts we’ve experienced. Soon we will forget what those grievances even were.
Now, let me tell you what so-and-so said to me a few years ago… Hmmm, by God’s grace I’ve forgotten, and I’m glad.
What words or situations do you need to pray about forgetting?
RefreshHer 