Trapped... with Joy

Joseph of the Bible has always been great bedtime fodder when I was a kid. Sure, his story had everything that would put a Hollywood epic blockbuster to utter shame - extraordinary plot, great characterisations, important historical context, colourful settings and a happily-ever-after ending to boot.

But that was when I was a kid.

Years and countless character studies later, there are still lessons from this psychedelic-wardrobed (well - he did walk around in rainbow-inspired clothes) personality that stuck.

RT Kendall writes:

When God deals with a man in an extraordinary manner, He almost always puts him in through unusual suffering. The essence of that suffering is often the bleakness of the future. (Gulp!) What makes suffering suffering is the complete absence of hope, humanly speaking. (No kidding!) God chastens those He intends to use in an unusual way by bringing them right to the edge of despair (now, that sounds familiar...). This way (here comes the clincher!) they can never question the explanation for their deliverance when it comes.

Of course, he was talking about Joseph being incarcerated without fault of his own. About the suffering that ensues as each count the cost to follow Christ. I think anyone who seriously wants to follow Jesus would arrive here at some point.

Despair in my dictionary is described as rotten, suckky, yuckky, maggoty, phu-thuey, crap, aso asf. But then again, I am describing the reaction associated with the condition. The actual feeling is one of helplessness and despondency. Of being trapped, suffocated, gagged, handcuffed, bound, tied, shackled... you get the picture.

How easy to tell others that all would be well and beautiful when we become Christians! Liars, liars, pants on fire!!!! (Then again, if someone was to have told me the cost involved in following Jesus before I had made the decision, I would have darted off in the other direction at the bat of an eyelid.)

When Joseph was in the dungeon he simply wanted out. But God had far, far more in mind for him than a mere release from prison. Many of us have ambitions that, in their carnality, are way, way short of what God has in mind for us.

Little did Joseph know what he was being prepared for. As with us. Little do we know about the things God has in mind for us.

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them who love him" (1 Cor 2:9)

In that case God, please keep the light streaming in to the prison window. Please.