Pastor's Corner

There are times when a life is so shattered with loss that it’s hard to believe anything good can come from it. We have no idea how to put the pieces together again. In fact, we can’t. God can.

Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery after changing their minds about leaving him for dead. Their betrayal was malicious and grievous. Joseph was taken from the love of his family to be a slave in a strange land. To think that his own brothers would do that to him was emotionally painful.

Many years later when Joseph forgave them, they had difficulty believing him and thought he might kill them. Joseph explained his reason for forgiving them: “You meant it for evil but God meant it for good.” The Lord took the sorrow and pain in Joseph and developed wisdom and understanding within him.

When he was promoted to rule Egypt, second only to Pharoah, he was placed in a position to help save the very family members who had rejected him. The Lord promises “All things work together for good to them that love the Lord, to those who are called according to His purpose” Ro. 8:28.

The Lord knows how to take every broken piece and make something wonderful out of it. The broken pieces fit together like a colorful puzzle. He knows how to take the ashes of devastation and sculpt beauty out of it. He knows how to promote the lowliest to the highest places while laying low the arrogant and wicked.

He says, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me” (Ps. 50:15). The Bible says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up” James 4:10.

Pastor Greg Brownell

United Brethren Church, Dayton