Journey to Freedom: Rise to Greatness

“You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” – Genesis 41:40 (NKJV)

Can we accept that despite our struggle, we are still called to greatness? Will we allow God to work our betrayal and struggle for our good? Can we believe in our individual and collective greatness?

Despite the betrayal and struggle that Joseph faced, there did come a time that he rose to greatness. Let’s review for a moment what he endured:

1. A Pit – A place that was dark, hopeless, and lonely.
2. Slavery – He had forced labor and loss of his freedom while away in a foreign place.
3. Prison – He was falsely accused and blamed for something he did not do which led to further loss of freedom.

In the end, he was elevated to greatness and became the Prime Minister of the nation of Egypt, a job he did not seek or apply for. It was offered to him due to the fact that his gifts made room for him. Just in case you are tempted to say this was then, these things do not happen anymore, remember, Nelson Mandela was the first black president of South Africa.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Greatness is a result of persevering through life’s difficulties, intense trials, and challenges. Just as precious jewels are produced through years of intense fire and pressure and eventually command great value and admiration by men, we too have the same outcome when we allow the betrayal and trials of life to shape us into who God wants us to become.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” – 1 Peter 5:10

God wants to make you great. He wants to bring you into a place of favor and opportunity but first He must allow you to go through the trials and tests. We call it the wilderness experience: a season of life where God allows us to experience intense difficulties, some of which are our own making and others are due to no fault of our own. Life is full of various types of wilderness, there is a personal wilderness that affects us as individuals and there is a collective wilderness that is caused by us being a part of a particular group.

Many of us will face both types but all of us will face a personal wilderness. Slavery and racial injustice is a collective wilderness while financial or health trials are a personal wilderness. Whatever the type of wilderness you have faced or are personally facing now, God is able to bring you into a place of greatness. If we just get out of the way, God is able to help us realize our individual and collective potentials despite our past and our vulnerabilities.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” – James 1:2-4

What can you do to make sure you rise to your greatness?

As you rise to greatness, remember:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28

This is what you are experiencing. The betrayal and the struggle are working together for your good because you love the Lord and you are called according to His purpose. I can personally attest to it and so will you.