Most of us know the story of Joseph (son of Jacob), that you can read about in Genesis chapters 37, 39-50. I want to talk a bit about how this story applies to those of us in the Wilderness, and how it may be a parallel to what you might experience. It can be difficult to understand why God allows some of these harsh testings to happen to us, but when we see His bigger purpose in it, it can help us to relax and just grow with the flow.

Many of us, like Joseph, kind of stood out as kids, and suffered persecution from our siblings and families that didn't quite understand us, or accept us. There seemed to be invisible restrictions, that kept us firmly on course with our spiritual, and character development. We seemed to have things about us that were both a gift, and reproach, much like Joseph's coat of many colors. Many of us were very spiritually sensitive kids. Then "Boom!" one day it happened; we were tossed into a pit of death to self and sin by God, the world, and everyone else, and we entered our difficult time of trial and transformation in the Wilderness.

As we pressed on despite the violent shaking of area area of our hearts and life, we resolved to serve the Lord with everything, there was an intense time of servitude and humbling that took place to train us and disciple us. As we worked in our spiritual "Potiphar's house", we advanced quickly, and became competent in our giftings, and secure in our place of service. Then because of whatever crazy reasons, we suddenly got spiritually "disrobed", and fled into an even deeper time of building relationship with God, being alone alot with Him, intense trial, deprivation, humiliation, and yet even deeper transformation.

We seemed to be sentenced to a spiritual prison as we entered into a new phase of our Wilderness, much like Joseph being sent to prison for reasons that seemingly didn't make alot of sense, made us look like a guilty loser, and God actually allowed all of it to happen. Joseph seemed to have no ability to defend himself, and he was walking out a very strict course, with no way of escape. But like Joseph, we learned to serve, even in an apparent prison and desert. We finally surrendered to the process, and grew quickly.

After a long time, and many situations that appeared would miraculously set us free from our prison, much like the Butcher and Baker with Joseph, our hopes were once again dashed, and crushed, and like Joseph, "The vision tested us". We eventually let go of putting our faith in the vision, and we put our faith only in the One who gave us the vision. We resolved, that if the vision ever happened or not, we would serve God anyway.

Then it happened, God said, "You are finished", and miracles began to instantly send us from the prison, to the palace, God's power and anointing began to flow through us in a powerful new way, and we became part of a plan that would save and help many. Great spiritual and financial resources were given into our hands to manage, so that God could lead the lost and needy to us, to be fed from the storehouse of nourishment built in us.

Trust God, that no matter what stage of this process you are at, He will not fail you, or abandon you. The time you spend at each stage is dependent upon the level you cooperate, and surrender to the One who is leading you through it. Many of us have been at the prison stage for quite a while, and now the spiritual miracles are beginning to send us up to the Throne Room. This will be a truly exciting time of restoration and vindication.

Remember, that God put us through all this, not only to display His glory and goodness through us, and to us. But He did this, so that we would be transformed with a heart that would beat with the same love and burden as His does. He is sending us forward to a world that is starting to go into a great time of trial and trouble in the earth. Like Joseph, you were born for this time period, so that many people might be saved and helped, through God's power, and resources working through a truly transformed, and holy "you".