It’s been quite a year,
as I look back now.
It’s hard to describe,
except to say, “Wow!”
You live for so long
at the point of despair.
And it surely seems
like no one does care.
You work really hard
at all that you do.
Yet the credit is taken
by those around you.
You watch and you wonder
what you might have done.
That others don’t see you
and your gift they do shun.
When people speak poorly
about that which you do.
There’s none with the courage
to stand up for you.
And so you do come
to the end of your rope.
You cry out to Jesus
for a glimmer of hope.
So, God gives you strength
as the years linger on.
You pray for the patience
to see hope’s new dawn.
You hold tight to Jesus
in the midst of it all.
You listen more closely
for the sound of His call.
The years of oppression
are not wasted, you see.
God uses each moment
as training for me.
I hear Him more clearly
because of the pain.
It drives me to seek Him
and submit to His reign.
His voice is much softer
and loving to me.
Than I ever dreamt of,
or thought it could be.
At just the right moment,
my God says to me.
“My child it is time,
for you to be free.”
All this reminds me
of Joseph in jail.
He sat there for years
for someone did fail.
To speak up for him,
his story to tell.
The man only cared
that his own life went well.
So Joseph was faithful,
even though treated wrong.
He still sought His God,
through the night that was long.
But God was not absent
or without a plan.
At just the right time,
He prompted a man.
That man was the king,
who had quite a dream.
It disturbed him greatly,
or so it would seem.
He sought out the wisest
from throughout the land.
But it fell to Joseph
to tell what God planned.
God lifted him higher,
than all but the king.
His purpose through famine,
was rescue to bring.
God rescued Joseph
from out of his cell.
For He had a message,
someone needed to tell.
He rescued Egypt,
but not them alone.
For to Joseph’s family,
great mercy was shown.
So when you are struggling
in a jail of your own.
I pray that these words
are good seeds that are sown.
That you hold even tighter
to God’s gentle hand.
And wait for the purpose
that God’s already planned.
That you remain faithful
in all that you do.
Let God fill your life
with all that’s for you.
But always remember,
as part of God’s plan.
You’re called to share
with your fellow-man.
God uses hard times
as well as the good.
To teach us His ways,
so we do what we should.
So when you are lifted
from the pit of despair.
You can’t help but shout it,
you know God’s great care!
So back to the story
that this poem began.
As much as we’d like to,
trouble we cannot ban.
But it is our choice,
what we do with it.
Does it bring us down,
or do we grow from it?
Part of that growth
is to let people know.
That the troubles they face,
also help them to grow.
© 2014 by Tom Lemler
As I was spending time with God in prayer, praising Him for the incredible opportunities He has been giving me recently, He put this poem in my mind. This poem is a reminder of where I’ve been and of God’s great work of rescuing me. His reminder from the life of Joseph is that my rescue is not only for my benefit, but that He means for it to be a help and encouragement to others. The greatest rescue from bondage that we will ever experience is the rescue of us from sin that Jesus accomplished on the cross. It is important that we share our stories so that those who are near despair will hear of a God who rescues at just the right time. I pray that this poem is an encouragement to you to remain faithful in all things.
In prayer,
Tom
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