Hindsight is 20/20. Seeing is believing. Looking back allows us to move forward.
Just for fun, google sometime... "quotes about looking back"...
Where are you in the "looking back" department? Our teaching pastor recently led us back through his journey of walking backward through his life to answer the question, "how did I get here?"
It's a fun, not-so-fun, journey. As I gave it a try, my mind recreated many specific, unexpected scenes. The memory path took me back through specific career moves... teaching school where God clearly reminded me of some forgotten realities of challenges in raising young children as well as the truth of learning many strategies of a "new" job... late nights, early mornings, weekend catch-up. Back up a little further to a year in children's ministry, then a step into teaching for several years. Way back to 15 years in the preschool education world... how very much I learned from others about how to listen better than I ever had before.... Throwing in the joys and sorrows of raising teenagers, the precious memories of the birth of our four children, the loss of two our of babies who never took their first breath here on earth. Meeting, dating and marrying my husband, Frank... a paragraph of love.
Sprinkled through all, I saw our life of indescribable joy, eternal hope, excruciating pain, unthinkable sorrow, overwhelming hurt, acceptance of the unexpected, devastating disappointments..
and the Lord was with us.
Several chapters in Genesis recount the story of Joseph. I wonder, sometimes, how he would recreate his story... his life was a roller coaster of events - many of the circumstances came because of the decision of others. He was sold into slavery by his brothers; his honesty landed him in charge of Potiphar's house; his integrity then landed him jail as he refused the sexual advances of Potiphar's wife. He correctly interpreted dreams of two cell mates, the only one that could have helped him... forgot him. He was finally remembered as the dream interpreter and was placed in charge of all of Egypt during seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
and the Lord was with Joseph.
Friends, how did you get where you all... the good, the bad and unimaginable? If we believe God's word to be true, we believe that He is with us... today, tomorrow and forever. Can you just think on that for a few moments? Wherever you are, however you feel, the Lord is with you.
But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love... Genesis 39:21
and the Lord is with you too...
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