The beginning of the month we ordered some small steps for Dave’s truck. He’s been patiently waiting. We ordered them in plenty of time for him to install them before we leave on our next camping trip.
They’re still not here!
I’ve been tracking them this whole time but there has been no movement since December 4. I’m so glad it wasn’t a present for one of the grandkids, we can manage without the steps but they would make things better.
They are lost in transit. The delivery date has long since past.
There have been times in life that I feel I have been lost in transit. Times I wish I would have waited on the Lord’s direction a little bit longer. Times I wish I wouldn’t have taken a certain job or moved to a particular place.
Lost in transit. But then I remembered the story of Joseph, who had the coat of many colors.
His life was a series of events which could have labeled him lost in transit. As a young man the Lord gave him a dream that his brothers and father would bow down to him. He would be in a place of authority but the transition was a rough one.
First his brothers sold him as a slave; then he was wrongfully accused of sexual molestation and sent to prison. Once in prison he helped another prisoner and was promised that the pharaoh would learn of his assistance but that promise was forgotten until years later.
Finally Joseph made it to the Pharoah’s palace and promoted. It had been thirteen years. Joseph was lost to his father and his brothers for thirteen years. But in all that time Joseph never became bitter. He didn’t let resentment toward anyone sideline him from doing what was right.
There was a severe famine and his brothers came to Joseph to buy food for their families. They bowed before Joseph, just like he saw in his dream. The amazing thing is Joseph’s reaction.
“Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come near to me.’ So they came near. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But do not be troubled or angry with yourselves because you sold me here. For God sent me before you to save your life. 6 For the land has been without food these two years. And there are five more years without plowing or gathering. 7 God sent me before you to make sure that your people will keep living on the earth. Now many of you will be saved. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and ruler of all his house, and of all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go to my father. Say to him, ‘Your son Joseph says to you, “God has made me ruler of all Egypt. Come to me, and do not wait. 10 You will live in the land of Goshen, you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and cattle, and all you have. And you will be near me. 11 There I will take care of you, so that you and your family will not be in need. For there are still five years coming without food. By then you would have nothing.'” Genesis 45:4-11 NLV
There’s an important lesson to be learned here. Joseph may have been abandoned by his family but never by His God. The world didn’t know where Joseph was but God always did and was with him every step of the way.
We may feel that our life and our dreams have been lost, lost in transit but let’s not despair. God knows where we are and He is here with us. Once we recognize God’s presence we can go from desperation to joy.
“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Psalm 16:11 NLT
When we are in God’s presence we are never lost in transit; we’re just in a process of transition.