Just the Middle of the Story

 

His master saw

that the LORD was with him,

and that the LORD caused

all that he did

    to flourish in his hands.

            Genesis 39. 3

(We don't always recognize

the flourishing

when times are hard,

our efforts are difficult,

   and the outcome foggy.

But God brings His full fruit

  to our faithfulness to Him.

What flourishes is

      never just about us.

God's flourishing

               gets all over.

If this difficulty was not

      beyond our skill set

      or over our heads,

would we seek God

     or recognize His hand,

His Presence, protection,

         and provision?

The goodness in this situation

   may take a long time

   to come to the surface,

because His glory

      spans across eternity.

And we are just

   in the middle of the story.)

O LORD,

Help us to be faithful to You

   even on the rocky roads,

   the miry bogs,

   or ordinary days.

Others are watching us

   to see if You are real.

Grant to us Your strength

   and the courage

   as You form

        something different in us.

Whether we see the flourishing

   or continue to struggle through,

we can be faithful

        in bringing You glory,

even in the most

            unexpected places.