Keys to Resilience - a Journey With JosephSample

Just as the LORD told Joseph, there was a great famine in the land. There was not enough food and people were starving. Many traveled great distances to find anything to eat, and feed their families.

In chapters 42-45, we read that this was also the case for Joseph’s brothers and father - which brings us full circle. Having no idea about what has happened to Joseph in the years since they have seen him, his brothers travel to Egypt in search of food and come face-to-face with Joseph once again (although, at first, they do not recognize him).

A lot happens within these passages, and Joseph sees his brothers several times. He learns that he has a full-brother (Benjamin), and that his father is alive and well. At several points, he is overcome with emotions. In fact, throughout this whole exchange we see some big emotions from everyone involved:

Regret (42:22)

Weeping (42:24, 43:30)

Sinking hearts (42:28)

Fright (42:35, 43:18)

Bereavement (43:14)

Being deeply moved (43:30), among others!

Emotions are not the enemy, but neither should they be our only guide. The Bible has a lot to say about them. For example:

“..do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” - Philippians 4:6

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” - Ephesians 4:26-27

“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” - Proverbs 29:11

“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” - Proverbs 16:32

And thus, today’s key to resilience is emotional maturity. We must learn to simultaneously embrace (and not stuff) our emotions, at the same time as not being ruled by them.

Is this something you are naturally good at, or is it an area in which you need to grow? How is emotional maturity modelled in your family, in a healthy way, or in an unhealthy way?

Like everything, our emotions must come under the Lordship of Jesus. We must process our emotions with God, but also make sure they submit to the capital 'T', Truth of who God is, and who we are in light of Him. As you read today’s passages, look for the emotion. How do the people involved deal with their emotions? Do they react in a healthy way, or not? What can we learn from their responses?

Let’s ask the Lord for wisdom in how to add emotional maturity to our list of resilience keys. We must become people who flee from temptation, practice patience, walk in humility, and grow in emotional maturity.