You've Got Favor

You’ve Got Favor!

“It is winter in Narnia,” said Mr. Tumnus, “and has been forever so long…. always winter, but never Christmas.”

(The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe)

That is how it feels right now where I live. Though the weather app on my phone says the sun is coming soon, actually the day I will hit publish on this note to you, it feels like this season of cold and gray has dragged on and on and on………and on this year.   

Have you ever had a season in your life like that? Have you faced challenge after challenge and just when you think it is over, the cold and gray come back again?

I have good news my friend, even when the season of gray seems to be dragging on in your life, you have God’s favor.  You have the favor of The King.

Imagine meeting someone royal, like Queen Elizabeth. If you had her “favor”, it would mean she is particularly fond of you. She would enjoy your presence. She would like doing things for you. I know it is hard to imagine. Her grandsons are much less intimidating.

Do you know what is even better? The King of Kings favors you.

As I was thinking about how hard this is to grasp, it reminded me of Joseph from the book of Genesis.  Even if you are not that into the Bible, you may know a version of his story through the Broadway musical or animated film.  

Even when Joseph faced overwhelmingly painful circumstances, he had the favor of God. He was rejected by his ten brothers and sold to be a slave, naked and beaten. I'm sure he was not feeling God's favor at the time.  There are so many times we don't feel it, either.  Though he remained a slave for many years, God had favor on him. This gave him the favor of those in charge of him, first his owner, Potiphar, then the head of the prison.  I'm sure Joseph was not “feeling” God’s favor when Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of hitting on her (that is putting it lightly). He was then sent to prison because of her lies. But even in prison, the favor of God could be seen in the details of his life. Though he remained a prisoner, he ended up being “head inmate”.

I know, it still does not sound that great. But God was definitely acting in Joseph’s favor when He gave Joseph the gift of interpreting dreams which eventually got him out of prison and into the position as second in command of the entire country of Egypt.  

Genesis 39:19-23  Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her.So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained.But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison.The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.

It was approximately thirteen years from the time Joseph was sold by his brothers until he was second in command.  Despite his many struggles, he ALWAYS had the favor of God.  This is true for you, too.

So, look for God’s favor in your life today.  It often shows up in the little details because God cares about the details of your life.  It can be seen in circumstances we are tempted to call “a coincidence” or “lucky”.  It is not luck, friend. God is particularly fond of you.

Never forget the Truth, you have the favor of the one and only God of the universe.