Abundantly Productive

"For God has caused me to be fruitful 

in the land of my affliction."

(Genesis 41:52, NKJV)

I continue to be amazed at God's ability to create something beautiful out of even our most difficult trials. 

In the book of Genesis, Joseph is perhaps one of the most afflicted individuals.  He is rejected by his own family members, thrown in a pit to die, sold into slavery instead, and forgotten by the only human being who had the pertinent information to set him free.  And yet he keeps pressing onward.

Deep in the core of his being, Joseph knew that God was alive and active.  That His Presence could not be contained and that His plan could not be thwarted.  He knew God as His Refuge, His Redeemer, and His Rescuer.  I have to believe that Joseph continued to press on because he knew the character of His God.  Because he knew that God had a purpose in the current season of suffering he was enduring.  And that He did.

The meaning of fruitful seems to be rather obvious - 1 a : yielding or producing fruit b : conducive to an abundant yield.  In Genesis 41:52 (noted above), Joseph has just named his second son by the name Ephraim to represent the abundant yield God has blessed him with in the land where he suffered.  Joseph is saying, "Look world!  God really does bless us in our land of sorrow!  He really does redeem!" 

There is a second meaning of the word fruitful that I find to be especially applicable to our current trials in life - 2 : abundantly productive. 

What trial are you currently facing, sweet friend?  Maybe you are experiencing a loss or feeling shunned?  Perhaps you are fighting a physical illness or dealing with the illness of a loved one? Are you struggling in your marriage or fighting a financial battle? Have you moved to a new place and finding yourself in transition-mode? Maybe you are just feeling unmotivated and questioning what your purpose is in life?

A friend of mine recently sent me the following Scripture as encouragement - one that I love dearly: "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4).  Notice the first few words in that verse: For everything that was written.  EVERYTHING was written to give us hope.

So, today - in this very season of trial you may be facing - would you embrace the truth that God desires to make you (just as He did Joseph) abundantly productive in this land of affliction? 

I will close with this devotion I read last week about trials.  I was blessed by it and believe you will be also:

"Withal, friend, you are mistaken.  It isn't raining rain for you.  It's raining blessing.  For, if you will but believe your Father's Word, under that beating rain are springing up spiritual flowers of such fragrance and beauty as never before as never before grew in that stormless, unchastened life of yours. 

You indeed see the rain.  But do you see also the flowers? You are pained by the testings.  But God sees the sweet flower of faith which is upspringing in your life under those very trials.  

You shrink from the suffering.  But God sees the tender compassion for other sufferers which is finding birth in your soul.  

Your heart winces under the sore bereavement.  But God sees the deepening and enriching which that sorrow has brought to you.

It isn't raining afflictions for you.  It is raining tenderness, love, compassion, patience, and a thousand other flowers and fruits of the blessed Spirit, which are bringing into your life such a spiritual enrichment as all the fullness of worldly prosperity and ease was never able to beget in your inmost soul"  [Cowman, L.B. Streams in the Desert, June 15].