Editor's note: Enjoy today's devotion written for Devotionals Daily by Rozanne Frazee, co-author with Randy Frazee of Encountering God's Love from Genesis to Revelation.
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How Our Lower Story Living Accomplishes God’s Upper Story Plan
“Congratulations, Rozanne! You’re pregnant!” My response was a mixture of excitement and fear. My husband who had just started his first semester in seminary was sitting in the waiting room anxious to find out why I had been so sick. At that time, I was the main breadwinner for us so Randy could be a full-time student. Neither of us was expecting to be expecting, so my apprehension led me to ask our friend and doctor, “Would you mind telling my husband with me?” He said of course!
Randy had created a five-year plan for our life, and a pregnancy wasn’t scheduled until the middle of his fourth year in seminary. That way, I could have my dream of being a stay-at-home mom. So, Randy did the only thing he could do to prepare for his new future — he began rehearsing the phrase “Would you like fries with that order?” I geared up to go back to work full-time and hope my salary would cover the additional day care expenses. Our future was very uncertain.
- Curve-ball moments in our life cause us great angst, confusion and even depression whether a tradgedy or a happy, ill-timed event. We cannot see how life will ever come together or turn out right from where we stand.
Joseph in the Old Testament is a notable example of life taking unexpected twists and turns. From his prophetic dream, Joseph believes his 11 brothers are going to bow down to him someday. His only mistake? Sharing this with his brothers who were already jealous of him because he was their father’s favorite, landing him in a deep dark pit and sold into slavery (Genesis 37:19-37).
Joseph’s exile to Egypt was 22 years of ups and downs. From a slave to becoming overseer in Potiphar’s house; later falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife of sexual assault and thrown in prison for a crime he did not commit. Was that prophetic dream of Joseph’s brothers bowing down to him just an illusion of grandeur on Jospeh’s part? Were his brothers right to laugh at him?
But Joseph just kept doing the “next right thing.” In prison with Joseph were two men from Pharaoh’s court. The cup bearer and the baker who had both offended Pharaoh. Each of them had a dream and God gave Jospeh the ability to interpret those dreams (Genesis 40:1-18).
Those interpretations eventually led Joseph to decipher the king’s dream, giving God credit for his ability. The land would have seven years of a bumper crop but then experience seven years of famine. Pharaoh is so impressed he puts Joseph in charge of all of Egypt. (Genesis 41:39-49)
Meanwhile, back at home, Joseph’s father and brothers were experiencing famine as well. They heard food was plentiful in Egypt so Jacob, Joseph’s dad, sent the brothers to Egypt to see if they could obtain some food. Little did they know who they would be dealing with – their long lost, little punk brother, Joseph. Bowing at his feet they make their request. After toying with his brothers a bit, and who could blame him, Joseph reveals his identity. They are terrified and rightly so! Joseph’s response?
But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. — Genesis 45:5-8 NKJV
Joseph’s prophetic dream was not thwarted! All the moments of anxiety were actually filled with divine meaning and purpose.
God sent Joesph ahead of his family not only to preserve the family, but to preserve the whole nation of Israel who would eventually bring us our Savior, Jesus.
Joseph could only see each moment in his Lower Story (human experience), but God saw meaning in every one of those minutes and used them to carry out his Upper Story (divine pupose).
Back to Randy’s and my story. Much like Joseph’s detour to Egypt, we saw our pregnancy as a diversion to getting seminary finished and into ministry. We were looking at our life minute-by-minute from a Lower Story perspective. But God saw this little baby, who was his idea, from a grand Upper Story perspective; infused with meaning and part of His long term plan.
Randy had been volunteering for a non-profit organization after his classes, and two weeks before I went into labor, the board of that organization voted to bring Randy on part-time and replace my salary. So Randy decided to go to seminary part time and work part time. Our plan was not thwarted anymore than Joesph’s. It was just slowed down a bit.
Our baby girl, Jennifer, was born, and because Randy’s drive was long and traffic heavy he wasn’t able to get home before Jennifer went to bed. We decided to move across town to shorten his commute. We started attending a church at the end of the street our house was on. A month later, the pastor resigned. After about two years of searching for a new pastor, the committee came to Randy and asked him if he would consider throwing his hat in the ring as a candidate. At 28 years of age, we thought, “This is a real long shot!” After they came to him the third time to request he do it, he said, “Ok.” Long story short he got the job!
- Who would have thought a sweet little baby girl we thought came too early in our Lower Story would actually guide us in the exact place to receive our first ministry assignment from God in his Upper Story.
What enabled Joseph through those years of ups and downs? Joseph never lost sight of the fact that God had given Abraham a promise to bless all nations through him and his offspring. As direct descendants of Abraham, Joseph knew God had this plan for his family, and he clung to that promise. For us, although fear crept in from time to time, we knew God had a plan, we just couldn’t see it. We repeatedly reminded ourselves of the apostle Paul’s teaching in Romans 8:28,
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God. — NKJV
If it wasn’t going to be full-time ministry we knew whatever God planned would be “good.”
If I could leave you with one encouragement it would be this. When life throws you curve balls, trust God like Joseph did. Cling to the promises in the Bible, and persevere with faith remembering we see “minutes” in our Lower Story, but God sees the bigger meaning from His Upper Story. He is guiding you to where He wants you to be at just the right time.
Written for Devotionals Daily by Rozanne Frazee, co-author with Randy Frazee of Encountering God's Love from Genesis to Revelation.
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Your Turn
Are you facing circumstances that feel like a de-railment of what you thought God was doing? Keep trusting! He is guiding you with the perfect plan in mind. ~ Devotionals Daily