the difference between favor and comfort

genesis 37-50

i just re-read the story of joseph in genesis in the message.  i am struck with the fact that joseph’s life was awesome.  incredible.  not boring.  he did things.  and YOU got all the credit.  it was clear that YOUR favor was on joseph.  part of me wants that.  i want YOUR favor, but when i read about joseph, i have problems with it.  i want favor to equal comfort, but it doesn’t, and more than i want that, i want YOU to renew my mind.  i want YOU to teach me the truth.  i want YOUR favor.  YOUR true favor.  regardless of the comfort level that may follow.

joseph was thrown in a hole in the ground, dragged out, sold into slavery, falsely accused of attempted rape, found guilty, thrown in prison, used by YOU to interpret dreams, gave you the glory, and still spent 2 more years before that provided him an out, and then he was put in leadership.  we don’t do these things.  we go to conferences and read books and blogs to be ‘better’ leaders.  we want to follow YOU almost as much as we want to be comfortable.  i have found my self trusting in chariots and horses (money, walls, self defense, my intelligence, homeland security, good debt, etc.).  teach me to trust in YOUR name.  remake me, my mind, my will, my heart, my life.