The Hidden Smile of God
Every adverse circumstance in life is sent by a loving God to refine us.
"Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him" Psalm 105:19.
Dear Christian, the ways of the LORD are often counterintuitive to us precisely because He is God and we are not. Look at the life of Joseph about whom the Psalmist is speaking here. It was the Lord who gave Joseph a dream about exalting him above all his brothers and even his parents and yet this dream became the very means of jealousy in his brothers leading him to longstanding years of suffering in Egypt.
The man who thus dreamt of exaltation was immediately met with humiliating providence. First, he was in the pit, then sold to be a slave of Potiphar, and then unjustly accused of being put in prison. One set of events after another made it look like his dream would never happen. It seemed merely like a daydream.
However, the Lord was working through it all. The Psalmist says that until the time of the fulfilment of the promise, the word of the Lord was testing Joseph. In other words, every seemingly adverse providence was purposefully sent by God to refine Joseph for the fulfilment of the promise. What looked like setbacks were stepping stones in preparation for the time when the promise would be fulfilled in Joseph's life. The pit and the prison were the intended, and not incidental, path to the palace. Hence Joseph himself later concludes that what his brothers meant for evil, God meant it for good (Gen.50:20).
Not only in the case of Joseph, years later when it was time for the exodus of the Israelites, we read in Acts 7:17-18 that "when the time of the promise God made with Abraham drew near, there arose a king in Egypt who knew not Joseph." Again, when it was time for the fulfilment of God's promise, what happened in Egypt seemed like a setback. However, we know it was precisely how God wanted to show forth His power and glory in Egypt through a rebellious king (Ex.9:16).
Hence William Cowper (1731-1800) wrote in his famous poem these lines:
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
So dear Christian, take courage in the sovereignty of God since whatever seems like a setback or painful providence in your life is all under the hand of your God. As you walk in obedience to the Lord, in everything you encounter, whether it seems happy or hurtful, the Lord is working through it all the fulfilment of all His promises and purposes for your life. He is using it to refine you for His future purposes, revealing His glory and power, to make it known for all to see He alone is God and none else. So be encouraged to stay strong and trust in the Lord of providence as He weaves His beautiful tapestry of grace over your life. Do not assume adverse circumstances to only yield hurt and pain. The Lord can and is working it all for your good. Entrust all your pains, cries, fears, and anxieties to the Lord and trust Him to write your life story filled with His wonder and power. Amen.