Interlude
It was a bright, sunny day at the lake. The water shimmered, serene and clean, with the green grass glowing under the glimmer of sunlight. The atmosphere was calm, though pockets of life stirred—people walking their dogs and college students lounging on the grass, chatting away
A girl with long, brownish-black hair, wearing black headphones and a semi-formal black outfit—standing out awkwardly amidst the casual attire of everyone around—walked along the path. Her steps seemed unsteady, as if the ground might give way beneath her, and her eyes shimmered with held-back tears. Her mind was heavy, feeling surreal and strange, yet she kept walking toward the sun, hoping its warmth might release her from the unbearable emotions and numbness caused by her wounded spirit.
“What did I do to deserve this? I know I’ve sinned, and I repent. But… was everything really my fault? Did I really deserve all of this? It’s not fair” She wept quietly, sitting down on a nearby bench. The lake’s gentle waves danced beautifully before her, unapologetically majestic and unreal in contrast to the suffocating weight in her heart.
Then a gentle breeze blew, carrying the glimmer of a flower seed, and the tension in her mind loosened. She sniffed and pulled out her notebook and began to scribble. Her handwriting a bit wobbly as she put the notebook on her lap and scribbled freely not caring about how it will show on the clean new sheet, which was not the usual her. Amid her ramblings about her emotions, at the very end, in dark green ink, she found written:
She stared at the words she had just written and felt an odd pull to read the story of Joseph.
“But I already know the story,” she muttered.
Yet, the nudge and the gentle breeze and the bright sunlight persisted
“Oh, alright, okay fine”
– and she took out her Bible and started to read. The familiar story seemed to talk to her on a new meaning that moment. And although didn’t want to admit but she understood why she was guided to Joseph’s story, though her heart ached for him.
“Poor Joseph,” she thought.
“The Bible says the lord was with him, but he went through so much.”
The verse spoke of how Joseph was cared for, yet his life seemed unfair.
“If the Bible hadn’t mentioned God’s presence, I’d think he was being punished.”
She frowned, laid back on the bench, putting the Bible down beside her with a snap. She felt like the world was crashing on top of her, yet everything seemed so peaceful on the outside. She watched men nearby about her father’s age reel in a fish leisurely, enjoying the warm British summer afternoon.
As she sipped her apple soda, she began noticing the gentle breeze and warm sunlight again.
“It feels like God’s gaze on me,” she thought.
Lying there, she imagined herself in Joseph’s place. Her own struggles felt equally unfair, like obstacles she couldn’t get past. But, unlike Joseph, she had sinned.
“So was everything that happened to me a punishment? Maybe… If I hadn’t met certain people…”
Her head throbbed.
The thought gave her a headache.
“Unlike Joseph, I didn’t always know He was there. And I definitely made choices that wouldn’t have happened if I’d listened to Him, if I’d known His words… But still…”
Despite the pain, a gentle warmth wrapped around her, and her heart stirred.
“He was there all along, protecting me. Crying when I cried, feeling my pain. Even though I didn’t notice Him,”
A tear slid down her cheek, and the sun smiled as another flower seed danced in the breeze.
Genesis 50:20
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Hiyalls, it’s me again, Julie. It’s been a while since I posted my first episode. I’ve been going through my own healing process with the Lord, so it might take me some time to post regularly. This post is actually a draft from August 16th, and I have so many episodes of my revelations and lessons piled up—I’ll make sure to quickly follow up soon.
Getting to walk with Jesus, our Lord, is challenging, but once I get to know Him for who He truly is, I am the happiest I have ever been, even amidst all the storms and no matter the circumstances.
Anyways! Today, I wanted to open up with a verse from Joseph’s story.
In case you don’t know his story, here’s a quick recap:
Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob and his father’s favorite, which made his brothers jealous. They sold him into slavery when he was just 17 after he shared a dream where he hinted that he’d rule over them one day. Joseph served as a slave in Egypt, but just as he was finding some stability, he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison.
That’s just the beginning.
Joseph spent years in prison, yet he didn’t lose faith. Even after interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh’s servants, he was forgotten and left in prison for two more years. In total, he spent about 13 years as a slave and a prisoner before his fortunes changed. Finally, at age 30, he interpreted Pharaoh’s troubling dreams, which saved Egypt from a severe famine, and Pharaoh made Joseph the second most powerful man in Egypt.
Through all of this, Joseph kept his faith in God, believing that the Lord was with him. His resilience through years of adversity led to his redemption. When his brothers came to Egypt seeking food, he forgave them, even after all they had done.
Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
None of Joseph’s hardships and struggles went to waste, for God had a plan for Joseph, who loved Him. Even during difficult times, God was working everything out for Joseph’s ultimate good. Joseph wasn’t being punished for his sins—he was being molded by the greatest sculptor.
God was building Joseph’s character so that he wouldn’t collapse when the time came for him to fulfill the purpose God had for him.
As humans, we often ask God for a job or a particular opportunity, but if we are given that, what comes next?
That’s not the end. To keep the blessing or take on a big role, we need the capacity to sustain it in a way that glorifies God and His kingdom. Because we are His children, He doesn’t want us to simply get what we desire and move on. No, He wants us to truly prosper in Him. To do that, He must first build our character, which is why we often find ourselves in a waiting season for a certain period of time.
There’s a comedian and now a very famous MC in South Korea named Yoo Jae-suk, who is adored and respected for his humble, kind-hearted, and caring nature. He’s been at the top of the industry for 20 years, loved by everyone. However, he spent 10 years in obscurity, struggling to make it. He wasn’t exceptionally funny or skilled at speaking, and he suffered from stage fright.
In one interview, he shared a prayer he used to say during his difficult years
” If you just give me one chance as a comedian, just one, and when that day comes, if I ever lose my humility, and if I ever think for even a moment that I achieved all of this on my own, then I won’t complain no matter how much suffering or hardship comes my way. I live each day with that mindset.”
Yoo wasn’t humble from the start. In fact, he and his colleagues admit that he was once quite different—full of pride, putting on airs, and driven by superficiality. But during those 10 years, when he was invisible to the world and treated as a failure, God built the character in him that prepared him for the great success he has today. You can’t imagine Korean entertainment without his presence now, and he’s respected not because he’s at the top, but because of his genuine empathy and selfless care for others, without expecting anything in return.
Just as I was having dinner today, I came across this perfect quote from @betteryouliving:
Joseph waited 13 years.
Abraham waited 25 years.
Moses waited 40 years.
Jesus waited 30 years.
But God set them free and used their mess as a message. God can turn our darkest moments around for our good if we choose to worship Him in the storm.
I know it’s hard to believe that God remembers you in your darkest moments. I completely understand because I’ve been there, and I’m still in the process of knowing God as His child. But He is the one doing the work. He is the provider, and all we need to do is sit on His bandwagon and relax, pouring our hearts out to Him.
In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul says:
” Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.“
Even when you suffer, we should suffer with Jesus. Hold onto Him. It’s okay to stumble. Always remember to tell Jesus about your fall honestly and right away so He can rush to your side and give you comfort, rather than wasting time shaming yourself.
Always remember:
The devil wants to remind you of your sin; God wants to show you His grace.
That’s the difference between knowing Jesus and following a religion.
Religion shames people for having dirty feet; Jesus kneels down to wash them.
Have you heard the story of the Prodigal Son? There was a man who had two sons. The younger son asked his father for his share of the inheritance. So, the father divided his wealth between the two sons.
The younger son took his share, left home, and squandered everything on reckless living. Eventually, he was left with nothing. A famine struck the land, and in desperation, he took a job feeding pigs. Starving, he longed to eat the food meant for the pigs, but no one gave him anything.
Finally, he came to his senses and thought,
“How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough food, and here I am starving! I will go back to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired servants.’”
So, he got up and returned to his father.
While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. The son said,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.”
But the father said to his servants,
“Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate! For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate.
Yes, just like the prodigal father, Jesus is waiting for you.
I used to think,
“But I’ve sinned so much—would He still welcome me?”
That was my mindset for a long time.
Yes, He is waiting for you.
For a long time, I struggled with the belief that God was angry with me for all the sins I had committed. I thought He was always waiting to punish me for the smallest things. But that was just the devil planting those thoughts, pulling me away from God.
He is waiting for you, ready to welcome you with open arms.
Are you feeling like a failure right now?
Do you feel like all your plans have crumbled?
Are you at rock bottom, with people leaving you, doors closing in your career, academics, or relationships?
Congratulations, because God has been trying to get your attention.
Now it’s your turn to return to Him.
I’m not saying the path with God will always be easy, but if you suffer with Jesus, He will eventually make your paths straight. The hurts, wounds, and dirt in your mind, placed there by people or the enemy, can be cleansed. The quicker you return, the quicker you’ll break free from the chains and trauma that have weighed you down.
And remember, from the moment you decide to walk with the Lord, none of your battles will go to waste. Everything—literally everything—will be used for good.
Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
God had a purpose for your life before you even had a plan for yourself. Sometimes, your plans have to fail so that God’s purpose can prevail.
I know you’ve been through a lot.
I know you’ve suffered deeply.
I know you’re devastated right now.
I know you’re scared in this moment.
But honey, this is God calling you home.
He is calling you, sweetheart.
Let’s run into His open arms today, shall we?
You can start with a simple prayer before bed tonight, perhaps with a worship song. Just say:
“Father, I am home.”
🎧 Rest On Us (Spirit Come Move Over Us) | Maverick City Music feat. Sam Rivera