The Meanwhile of the Sad Story

Excerpt taken from Meanwhile: Meeting God in the Wait by Carol McLeod

Day 5

The Meanwhile of the Sad Story

Have you ever thought you might die of a broken heart? Have you ever supposed you might not take another breath or live another day due to the magnitude of your emotional pain? Anyone who has lived to the ripe old age of thirty knows what I am referencing. Your wound might have been conceived due to “the other woman” or because of betrayal by a close family member. Perhaps the excruciating moment of unspeakable pain was ushered into your life through infertility, a health crisis, or a tragic accident. For Jacob, it was the awful realization that something horrific had happened to his son, Joseph.

Then he examined it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” So Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him. (Genesis 37:33-35)

Jacob mourned for many days when he was confronted with the death of Joseph, his dearly loved son. If there is a pain greater than losing a child to early death, I don’t know what is. Jacob’s grief was not just a knee-jerk reaction to circumstances he despised, he was engulfed in the white-hot, searing pain of agony. His lamentation was so great that he even thought he would die. I can hardly read the above verses without experiencing the enormity of the anguish of Jacob.

The structure of this dysfunctional family had been ripped apart, just as Joseph’s coat had been torn asunder. Nothing would ever be the same for Jacob. Instead of twelve strapping sons, he now only had eleven living. Where Joseph used to sit at the family table, grief sat in his seat. Not only had Joseph’s varicolored coat been destroyed but so had camaraderie, the joy of unity, and the power of hope. Was this the end of their story? Would this family shrivel up and die due to the grossly poor choices of the older brothers? What would happen now to the household of Jacob? Could they ever recover?

Just One Word

The very next verse in the story of Joseph is perhaps one of the most powerful Scriptures in the entire Old Testament. On this one verse hinges the power of God to turn bad into good, evil into benevolent, and loss into gain.

Meanwhile, the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard. (Genesis 37:36)

Meanwhile. When your world has fallen apart, never forget that there is a meanwhile. When all you see with your naked eye is death, remind yourself of the meanwhile. If your world has suddenly morphed into grief and the black pit, restore your soul with this one word—meanwhile.

When life has treated you unfairly there is a meanwhile going on behind the scenes of your life. God just may be taking the very worst moment of your life and using it as a transformational power to usher you into a divine promotion. God has the power and willingness to take a horrific situation and temper it with his meanwhile, producing something incredible beyond human understanding.

Joseph could have remained at home as a little shepherd boy taking care of his daddy and his brothers. He could have embraced the identity of a person with no eternal significance, and then you and I would never know his name. However, our God, who is a genius at everything, was able to take the injustice of this situation and turn it into a magnificent advantage, not only for Joseph, but for an entire nation. God used the cruel treatment of hard-hearted family members, added in His prevenient grace, and miraculously transformed it into history-shaping events.

Some of you reading this today may be going through a meanwhile time in your own life. I have found there are seasons when a meanwhile can be just what it says—a mighty mean-while. As God is working in the meanwhiles of life, the wait can feel vicious, agonizing, and cruel. But when we trust the kind heart of the Father and give Him the time to transform our meanwhile, He will write the end of our stories. I have heard it said that if your story is not good, then God is not finished with it yet. While you are in the meanwhile, stay filled with faith and look at the events of your life from a historical perspective.

Your meanwhile, just like Joseph’s, is about to become a miracle.

What is your definition of the word miracle?

It’s a Theme

The theme of suffering is predominant in the narrative of Joseph, unable to be ignored. And the story of Joseph is about to get worse before it gets better. Joseph was a righteous young man, tapped by God for greatness in His unshakable kingdom, and yet, still he suffered. Joseph was protected, even during days of suffering, by his stable faith and awareness of the presence of the Lord. Follow Joseph’s example. As you go through devastating life events, continue to embrace relentless faith, and remind yourself daily that the Lord is with you. Our faithful God is able to create overpowering good out of suffering and evil—never doubt it.

Can you think of someone else who suffered in Scripture for righteousness’ sake?

How did you see the goodness of God intervene in their story?

How has memorizing the treasure verse this week encouraged your faith?

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Order your copy of Meanwhile: Meeting God in the Wait by Carol McLeod