Dancing on Your Dash: Kicked Off the Dash

In 2017, over a million viewers watched, waited, and were finally rewarded when they witnessed “April the giraffe” giving birth at Animal Adventure Park in New York. Were you one of them?

Hello friend, I’m Kim Crabill. I’m delighted to welcome you back to Strengthen Your Walk and our series, “Dancing on Your Dash” — discerning when and discovering how God has choreographed our daily steps to fulfill the incredible plan He has declared for each of our lives.

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Because of April, the giraffe, a lot of people now know what a giraffe’s birth looks like. Lesser known though is what happens just after the birth. The newborn begins its life with a 6-to-8-foot fall from its mother to the ground. Then, as if to add insult to injury, the mom gives the baby a swift kick with her powerful hoof — often hard enough to send the little guy flying. The stunned newborn wobbles to its feet and invariably falls … and, believe it or not, its mother kicks it again. This process is repeated until the young calf is not only standing strong on its own but also able to fall and get up quickly.

Now, our first instinct may be to call Giraffe Social Services and have mom hauled away. Right? Until we understand that the mother giraffe is doing exactly what she needs to do for her baby: protecting him. You see, predators love a helpless newborn, and the sooner he learns to get up and run, the longer his life!

How many times have you found yourself minding your own business — dancing as well as you can — only to trip, fall, and then be kicked around either verbally or emotionally while you were down by people who were supposed to love you?

If there were ever a contest for “Most Kicked Around” in Scripture, Joseph would certainly be a contender! His story is told in Genesis 37-50. I hope you will take the time to read it.

The favored child of his father, Joseph was reviled by his brothers. Between his fancy coat and his self-promoting dreams many would say that we can’t really blame them for their jealousy and animosity. However, the brothers didn’t stop there. Genesis 37 tells us that they plotted to kill him! Initially, they took his fancy coat, threw him into an empty cistern, and left him for dead. Then changing their minds, they yanked him out of the pit and sold him into slavery. (Some brotherly love, right?)

As the story continues, Joseph ends up in Egypt working for Potiphar, a high-ranking official. He could’ve become bitter, but instead he did what we’ve talked about so much in this study … he trusted God and accepted where God had placed him.

This makes me think of Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him (God) and He will make your paths straight.”

Within this trust, Joseph was free to work hard and He became irreplaceable to Potiphar until he was falsely accused of assault by his master’s wife and put in prison. In prison, Joseph threw up his hands in despair and gave up. Wait! No! That’s not what happened at all. That’s what he could have done. Maybe what most would have done, but instead Joseph remained faithful and soon became a trustee in the jail. He even interpreted dreams for the king, who rewarded him with greater responsibility and influence.

What is clear here is that Joseph was a good man thrown into a bad story. His mantra might’ve become but it’s not fair. Instead, he remained convinced that God was at all times directing his steps toward a good purpose. Here’s something important to remember: Joseph’s circumstances changed, but Joseph remained the same. No matter where he was … from the pit to the prison and eventually the palace, Joseph remained undaunted and faithful, committed, and steadfast. Years later, when his brothers reentered the story, desperate for Joseph’s help, he told them:

As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day (Genesis 50:20).

When we refuse to dwell in life’s pits, choosing instead to trust God and keep dancing, we place ourselves in a position to reach our greatest potential and purpose in this life. That is using our God-story for the “saving” of others.

My dear friend, keep your head up. God has promised that He is working all things for your good. Let what seems to be knocking you down cause you to jump up faster and be stronger. And remember, if what’s happening on your dash today is not good, then God is not finished with your dance!

See you next time friends. And remember, you can Strengthen Your Walk by saying “Yes” to the One who invites you to dance.

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