Changing Seasons

"Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift a hand or foot in Egypt.' Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potipera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt."
Genesis 41:44&45

The story of Joseph is one of the most often repeated chronicles of the Old Testament. The scripture I quoted above tells us about when Joseph was elevated to the highest position in Egypt, other than the Pharaoh himself. We all know that Joseph prospered and governed the land of Egypt well. He was responsible for collecting and providing grain to all the people in the land. In this way, they endured a seven-year drought. These were good times in Joseph's life. He had a wife, family, wealth, and high position. Even his own father, mother and brothers were restored to him.
    For all the great things that Joseph did, we sometimes forget that there were difficult seasons in his life. His brothers betrayed him and threw him in a well to die. A caravan from Egypt found him and sold him into slavery in Egypt. He was falsely accused by Potipher, the owner of the house that he worked in. He was thrown in a dungeon and spent many years there. It was not an easy rise to fame for Joseph. Along with the time of blessing came times of suffering.
    I believe we need to understand that there will be happy times, years of abundance, and seasons of good health for us. This is God's plan for our lives. But we must know that there will be difficult times as well. The greatest men in the Bible suffered hardships. Some were so sick that they almost died, others were persecuted by their own families. Some saw their wives and families killed. Job suffered physically, financially, and relationally. The good times are bound to come; in fact, they are promised to us. But I find no Biblical ground to suggest that we will not have times of suffering. God uses these times to build us. He prepares us for the greatness that he has in store. He helps us change our characters through difficulties. He uses times of pain and suffering to discipline us. His motive is not to harm us or watch us burn like an ant under a magnifying glass. He does it because he loves us. He has a plan and his will is paramount.
    Let me encourage you today. If you are in a season of suffering, it will come to an end. A new season of blessing and abundance is just around the corner for you. Some call these the seasons of life, but I think they are the seasons God allows. You can trust him, no matter what season you are in. Your hope should always be in him. You must know that the season will pass and a time of abundance and harvest will come. If you look to the four seasons we see in nature, you know that there are times for things to die and struggle. But there are times of new life that is so beautiful it is without equal. The same is true with you. If it is a time of abundance, give thanks to God with all your heart. If it is a time of trial, give thanks as well, for you know that you are being built to be a holy temple of God. Do not lose faith. These are just changing seasons.