Faithful Vision: Trusting God Through Adversity

In the journey of faith, we often find ourselves in the midst of trials and tribulations that seem to contradict the vision God has placed in our hearts. The story of Joseph, spanning from Genesis chapters 37 to 42, serves as a powerful reminder that the fulfillment of God's promises does not depend on our circumstances but on His unwavering faithfulness.

Joseph's life was marked by a series of adversities: he was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned. Yet, each of these hardships was a step towards the realization of the vision God had given him. This teaches us that the path to our divine destiny is not a straight line but a complex journey that God orchestrates meticulously.

Firstly, we must be discerning about who we share our God-given visions with. Not everyone can understand or support what God has revealed to us. When God speaks to us, it is a personal communication, not meant for everyone's ears. This discernment is crucial because sharing our vision with the wrong people can lead to discouragement and opposition.

Secondly, we must trust God more intently, especially when the vision seems impossible. The enemy's primary goal is to sow seeds of unbelief. He will use every tactic to distract and discourage us from pursuing God's plan for our lives. However, the intensity of the attack is often a measure of the vision's value. We must remain steadfast, knowing that the greater the opposition, the more precious the vision.

Thirdly, our calling is not dependent on our circumstances. External challenges do not alter God's plan for us. We must not interpret opposition as a sign that we are out of God's will. Instead, we should recognize that God is working through our circumstances to shape us and bring His vision to fruition.

Joseph's story culminates in a profound revelation: the vision was not just about him. When he eventually rose to a position of power in Egypt, he understood that his suffering was part of a larger plan to preserve many lives during a time of famine. This perspective is vital for us as well. The vision God gives us often extends beyond our personal fulfillment—it has the potential to impact others and advance God's kingdom.

In summary, the vision God places in our hearts is precious and requires our unwavering faith and commitment. We must guard it, trust God through the impossible, and remain steadfast despite our circumstances, knowing that God is working all things together for our good and His glory.

Key Takeaways:

- The discernment of sharing your vision is critical. God's communication with you about your purpose is personal and sacred. Not everyone is equipped to handle the weight of the vision God has entrusted to you. Guard it wisely, and share it selectively, ensuring that those you confide in are those who can genuinely support and encourage you in your journey. [01:04:21 ]

- Trusting God in the face of impossibility is a testament to the value of your vision. The enemy's attacks are designed to derail you from your divine destiny. Recognize that the intensity of your trials is proportional to the significance of your calling. Stand firm in faith, knowing that God is with you every step of the way. [01:08:32 ]

- Your circumstances do not define your calling. It is a common misconception that a smooth path indicates God's approval, while obstacles suggest His disapproval. This is not the case. God's vision for your life remains constant, regardless of external challenges. Embrace this truth and continue to walk in your calling with confidence. [01:09:16 ]

- The vision God gives you is often bigger than you. It's not just about your personal success or comfort; it's about God's larger plan. Your obedience to God's vision can lead to the preservation and blessing of others. Embrace the broader impact of your calling and serve with a heart that understands the greater purpose. [01:17:58 ]

- Perseverance in the face of adversity is key to realizing God's vision. Like Joseph, you may encounter setbacks and feel as though your vision is slipping away. However, God is at work even when you cannot see it. Remain faithful and patient, for in due time, God will bring His plans to pass in your life. [01:14:57 ]

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. **Genesis 37:5-11** - Joseph's Dreams
2. **Genesis 42:1-9** - Joseph's Brothers Bow Before Him
3. **Genesis 45:4-8** - Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers

#### Observation Questions
1. What were the two dreams that Joseph shared with his brothers, and how did they react? ([01:01:21])
2. Describe the sequence of events that happened to Joseph after he shared his dreams with his family. ([01:02:47])
3. How did Joseph's position in Egypt ultimately fulfill the vision God had given him? ([01:11:41])
4. What was Joseph's perspective on the hardships he faced when he revealed himself to his brothers? ([01:16:24])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to be discerning about who we share our God-given visions with, according to the sermon? ([01:04:21])
2. How does the intensity of the enemy's attacks relate to the value of our vision, as discussed in the sermon? ([01:07:46])
3. In what ways did Joseph's circumstances not define his calling, and how did he continue to trust God? ([01:09:16])
4. How does Joseph's story illustrate that the vision God gives us is often bigger than our personal success? ([01:17:13])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you shared a personal vision or dream with someone who did not support or understand it. How did that experience affect you, and what did you learn from it? ([01:04:21])
2. When facing seemingly impossible situations, what practical steps can you take to trust God more intently? ([01:04:57])
3. Think about a current challenge in your life. How can you shift your perspective to see it as part of God's larger plan for you? ([01:09:16])
4. Joseph's vision was not just about him but about preserving many lives. How can you identify and embrace the broader impact of your calling in your community or workplace? ([01:17:13])
5. Have you ever interpreted opposition or challenges as a sign that you were out of God's will? How can Joseph's story help you reframe such experiences? ([01:09:16])
6. What are some practical ways you can guard the vision God has given you and share it selectively with those who can genuinely support and encourage you? ([01:04:21])
7. Joseph remained faithful and patient despite his circumstances. What specific actions can you take to remain steadfast in your faith during difficult times? ([01:14:57])

Day 1: Guarding Your Vision with Discernment
Discernment in sharing one's vision is not about secrecy but about protecting the sacredness of divine communication. It is essential to recognize that not everyone is prepared to handle or support the vision God has entrusted to you. This discernment is not a sign of distrust in others but a wise measure to ensure that the vision is nurtured in a supportive environment. It is about finding the right confidants who can provide encouragement and wisdom without hindering the growth of the vision. By sharing selectively, one can avoid unnecessary opposition and maintain focus on the path God has laid out.

"Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." - Proverbs 11:14 ESV

Reflection: Consider a vision or dream that you believe God has placed in your heart. Who are the individuals in your life that you can trust to support and nurture this vision with wisdom and encouragement?

Day 2: Trusting God in Impossibility
When faced with seemingly impossible situations, trusting God is a testament to the strength and value of the vision He has given. The enemy's attempts to sow doubt are a clear indication that the vision is significant and worth pursuing. It is in these moments of trial that one's faith is tested and refined. Standing firm in faith, despite the challenges, is an act of defiance against the enemy's schemes and a declaration of trust in God's promises. The greater the opposition, the more one must lean into faith, knowing that God is present and active, even when the path seems insurmountable.

"But he said, 'What is impossible with man is possible with God.'" - Luke 18:27 ESV

Reflection: Recall a time when you faced significant opposition or a challenge that seemed insurmountable. How did you experience God's presence and faithfulness during that time, and how can that experience strengthen your trust in Him now? [01:08:32]

Day 3: Your Calling Transcends Circumstances
Circumstances, whether favorable or challenging, do not define one's calling. It is a common misconception that ease is a sign of God's approval, while hardship indicates His disapproval. However, the truth is that God's vision for one's life is steadfast, and He uses all circumstances to shape and prepare for the fulfillment of that vision. Embracing this truth allows one to walk confidently in their calling, regardless of external challenges, and to see every situation as an opportunity for growth and reliance on God.

"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." - Romans 11:29 ESV

Reflection: How can you maintain focus on your calling when faced with difficult circumstances, and what practical steps can you take to continue walking confidently in your calling, despite external challenges? [01:09:16]

Day 4: Vision Beyond Personal Fulfillment
The vision God imparts often extends beyond personal success and comfort, serving a greater purpose in His kingdom. Understanding that one's obedience to God's vision can lead to the preservation and blessing of others brings a new perspective to the trials and triumphs along the journey. It is not merely about individual achievement but about being a part of God's larger plan, which can have a profound impact on the lives of others. Embracing this broader purpose allows one to serve with a heart aligned with God's intentions for the world.

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." - 1 Peter 4:10 ESV

Reflection: How does the understanding that your vision may impact others change the way you approach your calling, and what steps can you take to align your actions with the broader purpose God has for your life? [01:17:58]

Day 5: Perseverance in Adversity Leads to Fulfillment
Like Joseph, one may face setbacks and feel as though the vision is slipping away. However, it is in these moments that God is often working behind the scenes, orchestrating events for the ultimate fulfillment of His plans. Perseverance in the face of adversity is not only about endurance but also about maintaining faith and patience, trusting that in due time, God will bring His vision to pass. It is a commitment to remain faithful, even when the path is unclear, knowing that God's timing and methods are perfect.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9 ESV

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt like giving up on a vision or calling. What helped you to persevere, and how can you apply that same determination to current challenges you face in pursuing God's vision for your life? [01:14:57]

Hallelujah! It's not just for them in that moment; it goes way beyond just them. It is something that will affect other people for the rest of their lives. It's way bigger than just you and I. It's way bigger.

And here's the thing: my boy doesn't necessarily like cleaning the bathroom. They find it an inconvenience to clean the bathroom. They don't enjoy it; they don't see the reason why they're being told to clean the bathroom in the moment. They don't see the benefit. They might look at it as cruel and unusual that we make it a big deal that they clean the toilet. In the moment, they may not like it. Why? Because they don't see what we see. They don't see what we see, but it's bigger than just them.

In Genesis, we meet Joseph, and this is where I'm going to park today. In Genesis, we meet Joseph, and Joseph is a man of vision. God has given him a vision for his life, and we see how Joseph's vision and the vision that was given to him is way bigger than just him.

From this story, as we walk through it, I just want to pull four reminders while you're walking in vision. Four reminders. The first three will come quick; the last one we're going to spend some time on.

Four reminders: Genesis chapter 37, let's start in verse 5.

Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, "Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright, and behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf."

His brothers said to him, "Are you indeed to rule over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, "Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me." But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?"

And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Joseph tells this vision that God has given him, but those who are around him don't believe it. As soon as this happens, he begins to encounter some less-than-ideal circumstances.

If you haven't read this, I would encourage you to read chapters 37 through 42. It is an incredible story. But just to give you some cliff notes: he tells them this vision, he then gets thrown into a pit by his brothers. After that, he gets sold into slavery by his brothers. Then, as he's in slavery, he gets lied on by his master's wife, and then he is thrown into the palace prison.

Already, we have a couple of lessons that we should see on our way to vision.

Number one: be careful who you share your vision with. Be careful who you share the vision that God has given you with. We say this all the time: when God called you to purpose, it was not a conference call. He talked to you; He didn't ask for an audience. It was direct to your heart.

Be careful who you share your vision with. Everyone can't see what God has for you. It doesn't matter who it is; everyone can't see what God has for you. Stop asking the blind to proofread your vision.

Okay, be careful who you share your vision with.

Yes, number two: trust God more intently, especially when the vision seems impossible. Trust God more intently, especially when it seems impossible. We've been talking about this for a couple of weeks, and I keep saying this, but I keep bringing it back, and I'm going to keep saying it until we get it.

The enemy's main job is to get you in unbelief. That's it, plain and simple. His main job is to get you in unbelief. So if that's his job and that's the thing that he's trying to do, then it would make sense that as he's trying to do that, all of the circumstances around you wouldn't actually be leading you to vision.

If that's what he's trying to do, he would be like, "Yeah, you got a call for your life. Yes, let's just open every door. Let's make it as easy as possible for you to fulfill what God has for you."

Yeah, that's not what Satan does. It's actually the exact opposite. How can I get you in unbelief? How many things can I throw at you? How many distractions can I throw your way? How many things can I get you in bondage to so that you won't fulfill the vision for your life?

How busy can I make you? And here's another one: how can I get you all of the things that you want so that you won't go and fulfill the vision that God has for you? How much money can I give you? How busy can I make your schedule? How pretty can I make it look?

Sometimes the thing that the enemy does is give you exactly what you want. It keeps you comfortable. It keeps you, "Oh, yes, God must be blessing me because I'm getting everything that I want," and you're nowhere near the vision, the plan, and the purpose that He has for you.

Oh God, His main job is to get you in unbelief. Come on now!

So if he gets you to a place—Pastor, how do you know that? Because he's been doing it since the beginning of time. In Genesis, he started with this: "Did the Lord say that you shouldn't eat of any of the trees in the garden?" Same play: unbelief.

So we cannot waver; we must be resolved, resolute. We must be immovable, especially when it seems impossible. The intensity of the attack is often based on the value of the vision. The greater the intensity, the more precious this thing is.

Stop considering how hard it is and consider how valuable it is. Why is the enemy attacking me? Why won't he leave me alone? Why is it so hard for me to come to church? Why is it so hard for me to serve? Why is it that everything around me is falling apart?

And it's not you; it's bigger than you. It's what's in you.

Number three: walking in vision and your calling is not dependent on your circumstances.

Walking in vision and your calling is not dependent on your circumstances. I said it like this: outward aggravation doesn't change inward destination.

We look at what's happening around us to determine if we're doing what God has called us to do. If it's good, then we must be doing what God has called us to do. If it's bad, if we encounter friction, if we encounter opposition, if we encounter any of those things, then I must not be in the will of God.

The first thing we ask ourselves is, "Lord, what did I do wrong?" Because it looks bad on the outside. But here's the thing: it doesn't change God's plan. It doesn't change God's vision for your life.

"Pastor, you don't understand. I used to run hard for Christ, and somehow I've fallen away, and I'm just really trying to get—yep, got it. Ain't changed. The vision is still the vision. The plan is still the plan. Now whether you want to get in line with that or not is completely up to you, but He says His vision hasn't changed. Your outward circumstance hasn't changed what I put in you.

The things that you've decided to do or not decided to do haven't changed what I put in you. You decide whether you want to walk it out or not.

Joseph encountered so many things, and no matter what he encountered, he trusted God. He trusted God in the midst of his situations.

And here's the thing: the Lord didn't change his situations. He was called; he had vision. He was sold into slavery; he was in a pit; he got lied on; he got put in prison.

But here's the faithfulness of God: in the midst of what he was going through, God moved while he was in it. He moved while he was in it. He got sold into slavery; he became the best of all of the slaves that were there. He got put into prison; he became the one who was in charge of everybody else who was in prison.

He didn't change the situation, but He prospered him in the midst of it. Some of us don't think that we're following God's plan because we're still in the midst of the situation, and God is saying, "I'm not changing the situation; I'm changing you in the midst of the situation."

Walking in vision does not depend on your circumstances. Joseph trusted God, and he pursued God for his life.

We pick it up in chapter 42 after everything that Joseph has gone through, and there is a severe famine in all of the land except Egypt. There's food in Egypt; there's plenty in Egypt. And guess who is now prime minister of Egypt, second in command to Pharaoh, and in charge of all of the affairs, including the food?

Look, lookie here, who's in charge of everything.

Genesis 42, verse 1: When Jacob, who was Joseph's father, learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why are y'all looking at one another? Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there that we may live and not die."

So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt, but Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him.

Wonder where he got that from?

Thus, the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

Now Joseph was governor over the land; he was the one who sold to all of the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers—oh, well, well, well—came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.

"Are we to bow down? Are we indeed to bow down to you?" Ain't that what they said? "Are you to rule over us?"

Even though Joseph had to walk through circumstances that he never imagined and he had to face opposition and seemingly unfair situations, God worked through it all.

And at the appointed time, right at the appointed time, God's vision for Joseph's life came to pass.

And the Lord answered to me, "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, so that he may run who reads it. For the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end; it will not lie. If it seems slow—" I wish He would have said it will seem slow, but I'm not going to add or take away. He says, "If it seems slow, wait for it."

Even though you might be in a pit, wait for it. Even though it might seem like you're in bondage, wait for it. Even though it might look like you're encountering some unfair circumstances, wait for it.

It will surely come; it will not delay.

You may walk through some things you never imagined. You might face some oppositions that you never prepared for. You might face some circumstances, but when you hold fast to the word of God that has been given to you, God's vision for your life will come to pass.

God's vision for your life will come to pass. Why? Because the vision is bigger than you. The vision is bigger than you.

Joseph sees his family, and he has a couple of encounters with his family. We pick it back up in chapter 45, verse 4.

So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near to him, and he said, "I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and yet there are five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.

And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt."

Joseph said, "It was bigger than me. It was bigger than me. So much bigger than me. See, you thought that what you did was going to stop God's plan for my life, but what actually happened is God used what you did to put me right where I needed to be."

He said, "I will work all things together for the good." He didn't say it would be good, but He said, "Don't worry about it; I'm working as I always have. They put you in the pit; I'll prosper you in the pit. Oh, they want to sell you into slavery? Don't worry; I'm going to take care of you while you're in slavery. Oh, you're in prison? Don't worry; I'll make sure you're good."

It doesn't matter because why? My vision for your life will still come to pass. I just need you to trust me. I need you to be immovable, and I need you to hear what I am saying and not walk in unbelief.

It's bigger than you. It is bigger than you. So much bigger than you.

You're going to have to go through some things that are not determined on whether you're walking in vision. This is what God has called you to.

I remember, Miss Jim, you can come. I've walked this story out myself, having vision, walking in something that you believe that God told you, walking through circumstances, and having that gut feeling in the pit of your stomach because you know, like, "I don't know how this is going to work out. I don't know how this is going to come to pass."

I remember having the conversation with people who I thought were going to be excited. You know, you get it, and you hear, and you're like, "I can't wait to tell somebody! I can't wait to tell those around me! I can't wait to do it!"

And then when you do, you're met with opposition. "Are you sure that's what God called you to do? Here you go. It doesn't look like that's what you should be doing. I don't know. I just don't know if you—if you say so."

And then you have that feeling: "Is that what God said? Did I hear Him? Was it just me?"

I remember my wife and I walking through unfair circumstances, and we made a decision and said, "You know what? We will not try to defend ourselves; we will let God be our vindicator. We have to focus on what He's called us to do."

I remember there were even times where my wife said, "Don't say anything," because I'm excited. "I want to tell everybody! I can't wait to tell everybody!" "Close your mouth! Don't say anything!"

And walking through that pain and that—but I want to—walking through the season, walking through those, and just having to say, "Okay, God, you called me to this, and so I'm making the decision that whether I got to go by myself, whether it's just me and her and nobody else, I got to do what you've called me to do."

The vision that God has given you is precious. This is what I need you to see: the vision that God has given you is precious.

We don't trust everybody with our kids. That's just me, okay? We don't trust everybody with our kids. When they were babies, some people say, "Hey, can I hold your child?" "No, I don't know you; you're not holding my child. I don't trust you."

"Can your kid come and spend the night?" "No, unfortunately not; I don't know you; I don't trust you. This is my seed; these are my children; this is precious to me."

The vision that God has given you is precious. He's entrusted you with it. He found you trustworthy. He's entrusting you with this vision that He's given you, and He said, "Here, what are you going to do with what I've entrusted you with?"

As we walk through that process and we walk through that moment, and then we begin to have conversations, and then we begin to have more conversations, and God begins opening doors and begins showing me as we begin to walk on the path, "Yes, this is what I called you to do. Yes, this is how I want you to move."

And then to stand here...

"The vision that God has given you is precious. He's entrusted you with it, he found you trustworthy. What are you going to do with what he's entrusted you with?" [01:22:39 ] (Download | Crop for social media)

"Be careful who you share your vision with. When God called you to purpose, it was not a conference call. It was direct to your heart." [01:04:21 ] (Download | Crop for social media)

"The intensity of the attack is often based on the value of the vision. The greater the intensity, the more precious this thing is. Stop considering how hard it is and consider how valuable it is." [01:08:32 ] (Download | Crop for social media)

"Outward aggravation doesn't change inward destination. We look at what's happening around us to determine if we're doing what God has called us to do." [01:09:16 ] (Download | Crop for social media)

"God's vision for your life will come to pass. Why? Because the vision is bigger than you. It's not just about you, it's about what God is doing through you." [01:16:24 ] (Download | Crop for social media)

"Joseph trusted God in the midst of his situations. God didn't change the situation, but he prospered him in the midst of it. Walking in vision does not depend on your circumstances." [01:11:08 ] (Download | Crop for social media)

"Even though you might be in a pit, wait for it. Even though you might seem like you're in bondage, wait for it. It will surely come; it will not delay." [01:14:57 ] (Download | Crop for social media)

"The enemy's main job is to get you in unbelief. His tactics are designed to distract you from the vision God has for your life." [01:07:46 ] (Download | Crop for social media)

"Sometimes the enemy does is give you exactly what you want to keep you comfortable and away from the vision, plan, and purpose that God has for you." [01:06:59 ] (Download | Crop for social media)