Perfectly Imperfect

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. -Philippians 4:13

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. -Isaiah 42:10

The verse: The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. –1 Corinthians 10:13 has definitely been taken out of context and misused.

Many people apply the not allowing temptation to be more than you can stand with God not allowing us to endure burdens or circumstances that we are unable to bear which is not at all biblical. I have heard it said many times in life that the Lord will not bring upon us any load or struggle that we cannot carry or handle.

The harsh reality is we do go through unbearable situations that we are incapable of managing.

Why, of course, do some people experience mental breakdowns, and some people try to escape their problems through drugs and alcohol?

Aside from certain individuals having chemical imbalances as a reason for their psychological issues, and certain individuals hooked on narcotics after experimenting for recreational fun, it is mainly because some of them are overwhelmed and some of them are too stressed to deal with pressure and need a way to cope.

Others may take out their frustration with rage and violent outbursts of anger while some take a more tragic turn and commit suicide.

Let’s face it, life is and can be very tough.

Plenty of people may say only the strong survive, and yes, there are a lot of us out there who are strong but to what extent? None of us are invincible to pain or devastation if or when it may hit any one of us, and depending on what that circumstance may appear to be it could come along to crush you, turning your whole world upside down and, maybe even side to side.

You would not know what hit you.

The good news is we are and were never meant to suffer within our own strength. We cannot manage sufficiently alone totally on our own.

I am a very strong person, yet what I came to realize is that there was actually a supernatural strength residing in me. The kind of durability that allowed me to be unbothered and unaffected by things and situations that would ordinarily cause vexation or destruction to average worldly people.

I thought the attributes of my strong spirit all came from my unique nature. In all truth, it had come from God’s holy spirit that had dwelt within me from my youth.

Our stability is obtained through being in step with the Lord. He fights our battles and he genuinely does gives us a peace that is beyond our understanding.

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. -Isaiah 40:31

Favoritism, Jealousy, And Hatred Within The Family

Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him. -Genesis 37:3‭-‬4

A lot of jealousy starts within the family. In the case of Joseph, he was favored amongst all the other children by his father and his brothers resented him for that. 

To top it off, when Joseph began to have prophetic dreams which foreshadowed a position of authority and rulership then shared these visions, his brothers were even more offended, envious and filled with a seething rage that eventually came to the surface. 

Some people have interpreted Joseph’s admission of his dreams to have been made and accepted by him within an arrogant manner. However, in my read through scripture I never perceived the incident that way. It did not appear to be one done under any haughty, boastful, or hubristic tone to me. 

I just had a viewpoint of Joseph revealing what he dreamt and his impart being taken out of context or being looked at through his brother’s own distorted conception or erroneous outlook. 

I know I have said and shared things with people in my life meaning no harm, no prideful intent, no bragging of accomplishment, just a mention or exchange of instance and ideas. People have a tendency to interpret and draw out their own conclusions no matter how wrong or misguided they may be when interacting and trying to size up others. 

Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!” This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?” But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant. -Genesis 37:9‭-‬11

With some individuals, they reflect onto others the traits in which they project themselves. Often innocent people get accused and penalized for things they were never at fault or guilty of. Simply criticized and judged over opinions, lack of wisdom/understanding, and subject to mere spite. 

Yes, preferential treatment at the expense of another child or other children by their parents is not proper, yet the situation exists within many family settings for many different reasons. Whether or not the circumstances are justified or unwarranted there is a way certain familial relation should be displayed and handled according to ethical behavior. 

Siblings as well as other members of the family may get bitter and discontent over another relative’s advantage or fortunate condition.  

When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. “Here comes the dreamer!” they said. -Genesis 37:18‭-‬19

All of these things happen and take place in the lives of many. We live in a fallen and broken world and everyone does not want to be fixed, made whole, or even realize they need repair. 

The only thing we can do is to pray and stay close to God, putting everything into his capable and expert hands. He alone holds the key to locks that only he can open up to set people free. 

“Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!” But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue. “Let’s not kill him,” he said. “Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father. -Genesis 37:20‭-‬22