Learning to be Patient and Keep The Faith

Tuesday, July 28, 2009 Fay 0 Comments

Yesterday, when I was reading an email (Kerygma mailing list) about patience, suddenly Holy Spirit reminded me of this scripture:

Exodus 14:
18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided

I just thought, actually God could make the sea dry land and divided the water just in a blink of an eye. I mean, He is God... He created the earth land with the grass and trees and fruits, plus the seas in just one day! Dividing waters in one sea should be easier and faster... but why did it take all night?

I don't know the answer, only God knows what He has done...
and I just think that only God knows what He is doing now in my life...

Well... honestly... lately (it's been a few months really) I have questions in my mind... God wants me to learn some lessons for sure... and when I think about the scripture, plus I read a good quote that said,
Be patient just as God is patient.


Then I think about all events when God really shows His unbelievable patience to human... I just speechless... This is just as usual, He always make me speechless and amazed by His way to keep me think about Him... ^.^

Just now, He reminded me again about Joseph.

When I was in Lippo Cikarang (my previous chapter of life), God also reminded me of Joseph. My journey is kind of similar with his journey. When I was in Lippo Cikarang, I thought it's similar with times when Joseph was separated from his beloved Father (I was separated from my family and all the familiar things before) and taken to a totally strange land. That was so similar (except the fact that I wasn't sold as a slave like Joseph =p). But I work there, and eventually find my interest in writing and internet.

Now... when few months ago I began to questioning about my current work, I was reminded about Joseph (again!) when he was thrown into the jail for a crime he didn't commit (he was accused for raping attempt to Potiphar's wife). In the jail, Joseph met the king's personal servant and chief cook. After he told the meaning of their dreams, he said to them as his own effort to get out of the jail, "But when these good things happen, please don't forget to tell the king about me, so I can get out of this place. I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and here in Egypt I haven't done anything to deserve being thrown in jail." Joseph just want to be free, and it's a fair demand because he didn't do the crime. Just be free from the jail, it's a simple request, is it too much to ask?

But what is the result of his own effort? It is said in Genesis 40:22-23, "Everything happened just as Joseph had said it would, but the king's personal servant completely forgot about Joseph." (Don't you think it's a bit illogical? I mean, how could he forgot about Joseph after what Joseph had predicted really happened in reality??? It's really God's intervention)

Joseph had to spend 2 more years in the jail before God make a way for Joseph to get out of jail (not just get out, but a lot more that just be a free man!) and promoted to be governor of all Egypt! What a day! That happened in just one day!

I see that one big difference in Genesis 41:16, "Your Majesty," Joseph answered, "I can't do it myself, but God can give a good meaning to your dreams.

Two years before, Joseph defended himself and protested about his condition, about things that considered unfair by his own judgement... He did all he could to be free, but nothing happened until God said that it was time for him to get out and fulfill his destiny...

I have to admit... I did what Joseph did... I tried to defend myself to others, I thought that what I'm going through right now is not fair... this is not what I expect... this is not what I deserve... I ask questions to God... But the result is nothing... There are days when I can control myself to be content and grateful, but there are also days when I'm still questioning, "What am I doing here, really?" ...like today...

God has His own reasons, and I believe it's a very good reason, He has a special purpose in my life, just as everyone else's life... and I know that there's nothing I can do to make Him move before its time... there's nothing I can do to make Him open a new way for me to escape from my process of character molding... He doesn't want me to (just) be a free person, He wants me to fulfill my destiny, a bigger purpose, just like Joseph.

Thank you God... I don't know what lies ahead of me... but like my friend's status on Facebook (I'm really amazed by His ways, He can remind me through anything!), I say:

I'm grateful for everything that had happened, for everything that is happening now, and for everything that will be happen... because I know You're The One who holds my future...

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