Your experiences do put me in mind of Joseph whom you made mention of. He was the most faithful of Jacob's sons, loving his father deeply and doing all his father asked of him. In return Joseph's brothers hated him, spoke of killing him, and sold him into slavery in Egypt. As a slave in the house of Potipher, Joseph did all things with a spirit of excellence. His master observed this excellent spirit and promoted Joseph to chief servant of his household, yet the man's wife lusted for Joseph. When he was faithful to God and his master and would not have sex with the woman, she falsely accused Joseph of attempting to rape her. Joseph was cast into prison for many years as a result.

In the prison Joseph continued to manifest a spirit of excellence in everything he did. He stood out from among all the other prisoners so that the warden of the prison put Joseph in charge of the care of the other royal prisoners. This brought Joseph into contact with Pharaoh's baker and cupbearer for whom Joseph interpreted dreams. Joseph pleaded with the cupbearer to remember him when he was restored to his royal position, but the cupbearer promptly forgot Joseph and he remained another two years in the prison, toiling away with a faithful spirit.

It was because Joseph always lived his life "before the Lord," performing all his duties in a manner that would be pleasing to Yahweh, that God was able to promote him to second ruler over all of Egypt, the greatest nation of the ancient earth.

What we have to bear in mind is that our entire lives on this earth as Christians is our time of preparation and probation. This is NOT our time of reward. Paul spoke of this matter in the following way.

I Corinthians 15:19
If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

Why is this so? It is because in this life the disciples of Christ are appointed many trials and suffering. We are called to forsake the world and the pursuit of mammon that we might devote ourselves to taking up our cross and following in the footsteps of Yahshua. Paul described his experiences as an apostle in the following manner.

I Corinthians 4:9-13
We have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

There are many false prophets in this hour who speak words of abundance, favor, and blessing to the saints of Christ, but they are deceived and deceivers of others. This present age is designed for our testing to provide us opportunities to grow in the grace and character of Yahshua and to develop the fruits of His Spirit.

Can you not testify that your experiences, like Joseph's so long ago, have given you much opportunity to manifest love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? When life is rosy and all men speak well of us these qualities are not tested. We only are able to develop the characteristic of longsuffering when we are suffering for a long time.

So be encouraged. Yahweh will not forget the labors and faithfulness of any of His sons and daughters. In due time we will all be rewarded if we faint not.

May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.

Gavin & Ellen

You need to make a correction to this article. Queen Victoria's reign as queen did NOT end in 1876. Victoria was queen until she died on January 22, 1901.