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Have you felt it? That urge to plunge head-first into something bigger than yourself–to be used by God as a beacon of hope in the lives of others? But there’s that one thing –that hurt, pain, betrayal, loss, whatever-it-is that binds you up and holds you back. So how do we walk in our calling while our hearts are still mending?
Your heart needs the Healer to mend the shattered shards as only He can. And even though you know that He can you wait because surely, a broken heart cannot be of service to anyone, right?
The truth is…
God’s Call on Your Life Happens in all Seasons
Joseph Discovered How A Calling Happens in All Seasons–Even the Bad Ones
Joseph understood this broken heart thing well.
He was the most-loved favorite son–and his brothers knew it. A surefire recipe for a family feud.
The brothers were further irked by Joseph’s crazy dreams of their sheaves of grain bowing to his, and his being center-stage in a celestial worship service of sorts.
Actually irked isn’t the biblical word–hate is.
And as we know, those dreams weren’t crazy at all–they were prophetic.
Sometimes Our Journey Takes Unpleasant Turns
Joseph’s dad sent him on a mission to check on his brothers and the flocks they were tending. But what happens next is often glossed over in light of the big picture outcome and a colorful coat.
You may have first heard the story as a child in Sunday School. As an SS teacher, I’ve stood in front of countless adorable wiggling bodies and wandering eyeballs, trying to cram the story in between the I-miss-my-mom crocodile tears and, “When is it snack time, Mrs. Doris?”
You may have taught this lesson to wiggly littles, too. Did your Road-Runner version sound like mine?
“…then Joseph’s dad told him to look for his brothers and the flocks to see if they were all okay and Joseph went and when he was wondering the field looking for them a man asked him what he was looking for and Joseph said, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are…” And the man told him where the brothers went so Joseph continued looking for his brothers and the brothers saw him coming and plotted to kill him and then Reuben said let’s not kill him but just throw him into the cistern and when Joseph reached them they stripped him of his coat of many colors, another reminder to them that their dad loved him best (which will be our art project after the story), and they were so jealous, and they threw him into the cistern and then they sat down to eat and then they saw these Ishmaelites so then they sold Joseph into slavery and then…”
Maybe it wasn’t quite that rambly, and I probably took a breath somewhere in there, but we tell Bible stories so matter-of-factly and in a rush sometimes, don’t we?
And I can’t blame wiggly little people for my rush to the end. I think we all want to jump right to the good part–the part where Joseph’s brothers show up and find out Joseph’s calling by God is the reason they aren’t going to starve to death. The part when we see the goodness of the Lord, and how Joseph fulfilled his calling while his heart was still broken. The part when they finally get those crazy dreams.
But today, that glossed-over part of the story made me cry.
When Joseph didn’t find his brothers and the flocks where they were supposed to be, he still kept looking for them.
Isn’t That So Like Our Jesus?
Isn’t that so like our Jesus?
Even when we aren’t where we are supposed to be and even when we probably don’t deserve to be found, he pursues us anyway. Even though some may reject Him, He still loves unconditionally.
And we can’t point fingers and say we would never do that because truth is, we have.
We have chosen other things over our first love. Probably not intentionally, but we most definitely have. But the Lord is gracious and patient, slow to anger and quick to love. Even when we break His heart.
God Redeems Unpleasant Journeys for Good
When his brothers stripped Joseph of his beloved coat of many colors, their envious fingerprints all over it, did it break Joseph’s heart?
I’m sure it must have.
And when he heard his brothers selling him off like used furniture, did it break Joseph’s heart?
I’m sure it must have.
What wondrous things God does through those who are willing. And He even uses those who hurt us in ways we cannot understand.
“The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.” Genesis 39:2-4
Even after being accused by Potipher’s wife of things he did not do, and even after an innocent Joseph was thrown into prison–the Lord was still with him as He walked Joseph through his calling:
” Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” Genesis 39:20-23
What Unconditional Love Looks Like
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Genesis 50:20-21 NASB
God gave Joseph power and favor after a rough road of betrayal and false accusations. Even while Joseph was serving in high places, I imagine his heart still hurt from betrayal and the loss of his own family.
Even when Joseph was walking around with a broken heart, he was walking with God in his calling. God was raising this man Joseph up and He was mending Joseph’s heart.
And God restores Joseph’s family–he gets them back. But not everybody’s story ends this way, at least not their earthly stories.
Though not every earthly story ends as we would choose, it really isn’t the end, is it?
What we may see as an ending is really a new beginning.CLICK TO TWEET
We can be used by God even when we walk through loss, pain, illness–a broken heart. God is mending us as we walk in faith and seek His face.
God is binding our wounds with heavenly threads of hope, grace, peace, and mercy. And heavenly places are not affected by earthly destruction. A blessed assurance that our real home is safe and sound and untouched by human pain.
Hardship does not need to hinder relationship, discipleship, or stewardship. Our spiritual gifts and God-given talents are never devalued by life’s circumstances or any less effective when a broken heart is mending.
So how do we walk in our calling while our hearts are still mending?
- We guard our relationship with Jesus
- We surround ourselves with godly friends
- We live a life of integrity even if it means taking a harder road
- We trust God with our whole hearts–even when they’re broken
- We walk by faith and not by sight
- We wait patiently for God’s instruction with every step we take
- We believe God’s inspired Word is true–and true for us personally
- We remember to give ourselves grace and allow the Spirit to lead us in what we say, what we do, and where we go
Our Lord who intricately embroidered our very being can delicately restore that which is broken; He is the God of restoration and nothing is too hard for Him.
We can show unconditional love to others because He first loved us.
Tell others about how to walk in your calling while your heart is still mending and …
Memorize this verse and share it with someone this week:
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
May your light shine brightly as you share the love of Christ with those He places on your path this week. When our paths intersect, healing begins.
Love & Peace to you in Jesus!
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