Pruned by Process

The dictionary defines process as;

“a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end”

Of the many Biblical characters who have inspired me, there is none with whom I can more personally identify than Joseph. You would think it would be Daniel, whose name I bear. He too is very close to my heart, but with Joseph it’s on a whole different level.

Let me provide a little background which will give this ‘connection’ some context. My siblings have always contended that I was our father’s ‘soft spot.’ I am the third of four children. I have two older brothers and a younger sister, who is not only the last born but also the only girl. Anyone who has any inkling of the father-daughter relationship (and more so only daughter) will see where I’m going with this. So, much as I’m not entirely sure as to the veracity of the ‘soft spot’ contention, for the purposes of this ‘story,’ I’ll run with it.

Back to Joseph. God gave him a dream that his brothers would one day bow down before him. What God did not do is give him any indication of the ‘process’ he would have to endure in order to bring that dream to pass. 

In 2017 I was blessed to be part of a KBS pilgrimage to Egypt and Israel. One of the most memorable things we did towards the end of that amazing experience was climb Mt. Sinai. I cannot adequately articulate how it felt to stand where Moses stood when he received the ten commandments from God. The climb begins after midnight, which makes perfect sense to me, as it would be much too hot to initiate it during the day. However, after descending and looking at what to all intents and purposes ‘appeared’ to be a near impossible task, it dawned on me that there was another, perhaps more important reason why the climb had to be done in the cover of night. Had I gotten a full view of the task that lay ahead, it would have seemed too overwhelming an undertaking and I would have probably opted for a long shower and a good breakfast instead. And this is exactly how God, in His infinite wisdom, helps us to go through the process – one step at a time, not allowing us to see the full picture with all its hurdles and obstacles, because He knows it would discourage us. He invites us instead to embark on a journey of faith, where like that after midnight ascent, He allows us to see only what we perceive is ‘manageable,’ at a time.

When God miraculously brought the Israelites out of Egypt, the promised land was not only already in existence, but was also in full function and even thriving. When God took a young Joseph from his paternal home, to the pit, to Potiphar’s house and to prison, He was not preparing the palace for Joseph; He was pruning and preparing Joseph for the palace. As his father’s favourite, Joseph was a spoilt brat who needed to be processed and pruned, for the fulfillment of Kingdom purpose.

After allegedly growing up as my father’s ‘soft spot,’ in the course of my career, I have had the privilege and honour of serving before kings and dining in the presence of rulers. In the midst of all that, God started taking me through a process of pruning, where many of the worldly trappings that tend to ‘define’ us, had to be ‘put on hold.’ He has taken me through a journey that has not always been ‘easy,’ but that I now know is an essential part of the preparation for the palace.

So, if God is taking you through ‘process,’ I pray that like me you will begin to understand that He is not preparing a blessing for you; He is in fact preparing you for the blessing. Too often we are waiting for God to change our circumstances, when God is actually waiting for our circumstances to change us. Hold fast to the vision. Trust the process. Remember, it was in the prison that Joseph found the key to the palace.