Pick Up the Pieces

Undoubtedly if you are progressing on your way to fulfilling your destiny you have encountered hardship, challenges, discouragement, rejection and perhaps even ridicule at the hand of naysayers.

There are several things you must always bear in mind.

·         People will be jealous of Gods favor on your life. Have you ever experienced someone disliking you for no apparent reason? Try as you may, you may not be able to think of anything that you have done to offend that person. That is because you may not have done anything. The enemy may be using that person as a distraction to prevent you from moving forward in your destiny. You may waste, and yes I did say waste time trying to figure out why someone does not like you. Go before God ask Him to reveal to you if you have done something to offend someone. If He does, ask for forgiveness. If He has given you a vision, dream or passion the enemy is sure to come against you. Because the enemy is a spirit he must use a body, or an individual to do his bidding. Let’s take a look at the opposition faced by Joseph.

o   Genesis 37:4 and when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him.

·         Everyone will not support your vision. You cannot share everything with everyone. Even those that are closest to you may find it difficult to believe, understand and support you, but you must not allow people to make light of your desires. Don’t become discouraged if your “friends” don’t want to listen or encourage you.

o   Genesis 37:5 and Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

·         People may try to prevent you from moving forward. Whether you are employed or self-employed you should not be surprised by people who do not want you to succeed and will intentionally place road blocks in your path.

o   Genesis 37:18-20 and when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

·         Watch out for distractions. Although you may know exactly what it is God wants you to do the enemy may try to entice you to leave Gods plan and follow his. If you are not focused the enemy’s persistent enticement may be difficult to resist.

o   Genesis 39:8-10 and it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife. Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand. There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.     

Try as he may to destroy Joseph and God’s plan for his life one thing remained constant. The favor of the Lord was upon Joseph.

We read in Romans 8:31 what shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Opposition will come, but it cannot overcome. What God has purposed for your life just as He did with Joseph will surely come to pass. When you find yourself surrounded by people that don’t believe in God’s plan for your life you may have to distance yourself from those people. You cannot allow them to distract you and more importantly you cannot allow them to make you doubt what you know is true. If by chance you do fall prey to distractions, become side tracked, or start moving in the wrong direction pick up the pieces. Return to where you know God wants you to be, for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.