In Due Time: Times of Testing and Refining | HealthWealthVictory

Do you have dreams, goals, and prayers you have been praying for and working on for a long time and nothing seems to be happening? In due time, your dreams will come true, like this story of Joseph, the Dreamer.

Psalms 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21

16 He called down famine on the land, he took away their food supply;

17 he sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, sold as a slave.18 So his feet were weighed down with shackles, his neck was put in irons.

19 In due time his prophecy was fulfilled, the word of Yahweh proved him true.

20 The king sent orders to release him, the ruler of nations set him free; 21 he put him in charge of his household, the ruler of all he possessed

Joseph, the Dreamer

The context of this responsorial psalm is the story of Joseph, who, as a young lad, literally dreamed that God will make him a ruler one day.

That everyone will bow to him, even his father and brothers.

Being a young lad with no care in the world, I think he was cocky about it, proudly announcing it to his brothers.

One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever.

“Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”

His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.

Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!”

This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?”

But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.

Genesis 37:5‭-‬11 NLT

Joseph, the Dreamer, is you and me.

We all have dreams. Dreams of health, wealth, and victory.

Times of Testing and Refining

But God always tests and refines first the character of those whom He entrusts with power and wealth.

17 he sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, sold as a slave.18 So his feet were weighed down with shackles, his neck was put in irons. Psalm 105

What a test!

Joseph, the darling of his father, dreams of being ruler, but is now sold as a slave, and even landed in prison!

The story goes on that even though he experienced great favor from God, he was falsely accused of seducing the wife of his master and put into prison.

God’s Blessing in the times of testing and refining

Throughout all these, Joseph changed from someone cocky believing in himself to someone committed to God.

He committed himself to God, trusting God no matter what happens to him.

He committed to doing his best no matter where he’s at and what is entrusted to him.

And God blessed him in everything he does.

Joseph at Potiphar’s household

Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper (succeed) in his hand.

So Joseph pleased Potiphar and found favor in his sight and he served him as his personal servant. He made Joseph overseer over his house, and he put all that he owned in Joseph’s charge.

It happened that from the time that he made Joseph overseer in his house and [put him in charge] over all that he owned, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house because of Joseph; so the Lord’s blessing was on everything that Potiphar owned, in the house and in the field.

So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s charge; and with Joseph there he did not [need to] pay attention to anything except the food he ate.

Genesis 39:3‭-‬6 AMP

Joseph in prison working with the Warden

But the Lord was with Joseph and extended lovingkindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the warden. The warden committed to Joseph’s care (management) all the prisoners who were in the prison; so that whatever was done there, he was in charge of it. The warden paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s care because the Lord was with him; whatever Joseph did, the Lord made to prosper. Genesis 39:21‭-‬23 AMP

In Due time Psalm 105_16-21 featured image

Untroubled in Times of Testing and Refining

Have you heard of the quote about people being like tea bags?

People are like tea bags. You never know how strong they are until you put them in hot water.

How strong are you in times of testing and refining?

I get anxious, antsy, and worried. I don’t want to be like that.

But we can stay strong. Even in very hot waters and fires that test and refine us.

We can stay untroubled.

How?

Just be like a tree planted near streams of Living Water.

Just remain rooted and grounded in God, nourished by Jesus, our Living Water.

Then we can bear much fruit even in a year of drought, when we are working and waiting for our due time to come.

In Due Time

Joseph’s dreams indeed came true in due time.

19 In due time his prophecy was fulfilled, the word of Yahweh proved him true. 20 The king sent orders to release him, the ruler of nations set him free; 21 he put him in charge of his household, the ruler of all he possessed.
Psalm 105

I love how this verse is said in the New Living Translation:

Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character. Psalms 105:19 NLT

I also love this from the Amplified Bible:

Until the time that his word [of prophecy regarding his brothers] came true, The word of the Lord tested and refined him. Psalms 105:19 AMP

I think it will be so easy to go through every trial if we know how it will all end from the very start.

Like we know how Joseph’s story ended.

When I read novels, I always read the end first because I always want to know if the end is a happy one or not.

So while reading, no matter what difficulties and trials the main character goes through I’m untroubled because I know they will have a happy ending.

We don’t have to know exactly how or when our due time will come.

We only have to know the Author and Perfecter of our faith: Jesus.

He has done everything to give us a perfect end when He declared on that cross, “It is finished!”

Our perfect end, thanks be to Jesus – Life and Prosperity with God.

Now your turn

Are you in a season of trials and testing and refining?

Stay untroubled.

Just stay committed, doing your best, thanking God for His blessing.

Soon the word of the Lord will prove Him true and God will fulfill your dreams.

In due time.

Stay untroubled in times of testing and refining.
Keep living in the Blessing
Thank God that in due time, you will receive what you ask for, even now in faith.