Are you a Treasure Seeker
In Genesis 37 we read about Joseph and how he was hated by
his brothers. They planned to kill him so they threw him in a well. Realizing
they could make some money off him they decided to sell him. What could
possibly be considered one of the first cases of human trafficking, his
brothers then sold him to the captain of Pharaoh's army, Potiphar.
Joseph later became Potiphar's personal servant and oversaw his household. He
was then wrongly accused of sleeping with Potiphar’s wife and thrown in jail
where he was put in charge of other prisoners. Joseph constantly faced with
trials.
A few months ago, I woke up about 1 in the morning. I tried
to go back to sleep but was unable. Seems as though God often thinks the wee
hours of the morning is a great time for Him and I to have deep conversation.
Little did I know that conversation would last over 4 hours. At one point, I
pleaded with Him to just let me sleep. “Do you want to know
how to fix this or not?”, He whispered. After a snarky reply of, can’t you
tell me tomorrow when I’m awake? I realized that wasn’t gonna happen and I let
out a deep sigh in agreement and laid there listening. He showed me an ocean
floor covered in sunken ships. Lots of massive ships once beautiful and
majestic, for whatever reason, maybe captain error or perhaps by an outside
force, now lay busted and scattered in pieces, in the deep cold abyss. Complete
and total destruction.
Like every single human in existence, I have had destructive
things happen to me and disastrous things I have caused. Foolishly, some
baggage I choose to carry. I often hold onto resentment and anger. I can’t
count how many times I’ve asked “why God why?” How many times do we dwell on
the wreckage others have caused in our life or mistakes we have made and can’t
let go of?
I heard Him whisper again. “What does every
shipwreck have?” I immediately thought of Pirates of the Caribbean and how
every movie is a journey for treasure. He whispered again, “In every shipwreck
lies treasure. It isn’t always visible. It isn’t always gold and shiny. More
often than not, you must dig deep through wreckage and chaos to find the
treasure that awaits you. How deep are you willing to dig to find your healing?”
To find your closure? To understand the purpose to which it happened.
ARE YOU A TREASURE
SEEKER?
My "treasure box" holds physical and emotional
abuse, hurt, betrayal, shame and deep sadness. I don't tell you this for
sympathy or to air my dirty laundry in a public place. I’m not sharing so you
can compare your sad story with my sad story, like we are in some type of sad
story competition where the winner feels like they won because their story is
worse. I’m sharing it because the stigma of “they have it all together” is a
lie from the enemy, to put shame and condemnation on you. The idea that, well
yours isn’t as bad as mine, somehow gives you an excuse to hold on to your
pain. More lies from the devil. I share it because in the bottom of my treasure
box is my freedom and healing. In the bottom of your box is your healing. Your
peace and understanding. Are you going to dig through the wreckage to get to
it? Romans 8:28, all things God works for the good of those
who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Everyone has
a treasure box. And often times the things in your box is caused by the things
in someone else’s box that they were unable to sort out and work through. That
too is part of your treasure. Empathy in understanding those who hurt you are
also deeply hurting.
Why do we instantly look at the negative of a situation? Our
perception of trials needs to change. There is no refining without the fire.
The coal doesn’t become a diamond without intense heat and pressure. You can’t
have wine without first crushing the grapes. An oyster can’t make a pearl
without an outside irritant working its way inside. We all want magnificent
unwavering faith. But it takes monumental trials and wisdom to obtain that
faith.
Acts 5:38-41 Tells us the disciples were preaching and
performing miracles. This angered the high priest and so he threw them into
prison. The pharisee deciding that maybe death wasn’t a good idea in case this
was Gods doing, decides to flog them instead. The apostles rejoiced in their
flogging for they were counted worthy to suffer. They didn't ask why is this
happening to me. They rejoiced in their sufferings. It may sound crazy, but I
want to be able to rejoice in my sufferings.
Did you know that 1
quart of Extra Virgin Olive oil, the highest level of quality, requires 2000
olives or 18 lbs. of whole olives. Imagine 3 1/2, 5-gallon buckets filled with
olives. Those olives must be crushed to produce the oil. Without the crushing
there is no oil. The only added ingredient in extra virgin olive oil is warm
water used to flush away the bitterness of the olives. The only ingredient
needed to flush away the bitterness of your wreckage is Jesus.
Joseph would never have become 2nd in command
and ruler over Egypt without the betrayal of his brothers and many others along
the way. Joseph knew that what had happened was God's purpose to save
lives and the lives of his family. Genesis 50:20, As for you, you thought
evil against me, but God meant it for good.
Stop giving the enemy credit for the places God has placed
you. To bring you to where He wants you. Just because you don’t understand the
process doesn’t mean you serve an unfair God. If you are focused on what you
have lost, you cannot see what you have gained.
The worse day in Jesus’ life, God turned into the best day
for all of humanity. We don’t look back at that day asking, why God why. We
rejoice in that day because we know without it we wouldn't have salvation.
Romans 5:3 And not only this, but with Joy Let
us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing
that hardships produce patient endurance.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and
sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because
you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let
perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,
not lacking anything.
He turns pain into
purpose. IF we allow him to.
Are you ready to start
digging?
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