I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

Genesis 50. “Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days” (Verses 1-3). Goodbyes are never easy, and they are made worse if it is permanent. How do you say goodbye, when you know you’ll never be able to say hello again (at least not in this life)? Life is unexpected and everything we know can collapse in the blink of an eye. What I appreciate about the story of Joseph is this: He didn’t spend his time plotting revenge, instead he spent his time rebuilding what was taken from him. How? He forgave. Loss can make forgiveness hard, it can make letting go hard. I believe that God allowed Joseph’s story as an example for us. We can’t see what’s up ahead, we can only move forward, Joseph never thought that bringing food to his brothers would have changed the course of his life so drastically. But he walked through each moment, each trial always aware of who he was. His example tells us we can do the same.

“In this world you will have TROUBLE. Fear NOT, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).