Troubles are the stepping stones to our destiny as is explained over the next two week’s Torah Parshiot Va-Yeshev and Mikkets. We see Joseph is the preferred son amongst his jealous brothers. Joseph had a special destiny which was brought about by very scary events. It must have been terrifying for him to have been thrown into a pit and sold to Ishmaelites to then be held in a prison. If Joseph had just kept to himself and not shared those visions which drove their brothers over the edge of jealousy into the realm of pure hate he may never have had to experience the strain and difficulty he had to deal with.
However, he did not control any of those things. He could not control the fact that his father preferred him or that his brothers hated feeling inferior to him. Though he had no control over these things he maintained his integrity and remained honest. Some people might hide their ability to have visions or interpret dreams because perhaps people will not like what you have to say. Joseph goes with the events as the come his way and though he does not understand the “why” destiny continues moving him in a certain direction.
No matter what is happening in our lives, we really do not have 100% control over events that lead us to where we are today. We make goals and plan but most of us do not end up in our late 30s where we expected to be in our early 20s. Troubles might come upon us that we do not like, they might be troubles of money, troubles with health, or work problems. Whatever the problems we face, whatever doors close on us there is a greater thing at work. When we trust that and remained focused on the fact that there is a reason for it all, there is a place we are going that we need to be at a precise moment under specific circumstances for other amazing things to happen, we then can accept our circumstances. When we can accept our troubles as stepping stones to our destiny we can move forward with confidence instead of fear.
There is a line in the move, Shakespeare in Love (cca. 1998) that applies very well to this concept. Two characters are discussing how things tend to just work out in the theatre business and the man Hugh Fennyman asks Philip Henslowe how does it work out? Mr Henslowe says, “I don’t know, it’s a mystery.” It’s comic but true! Somehow, some way things tend to just work themselves out and often we find once we get past the troubles we are in a much better place. After all, if Joseph had not traveled on his difficult path thrust upon him, many people in Egypt and surrounding areas, including his own family, would likely have starved to death during the famine that comes about in the next Parsha.
So next time you are going through troubles, remember this story and that though you might not know how the mystery of it all works, just know that it does work. Stay positive, don’t panic, and walk along these stepping stones to your destiny.
However, he did not control any of those things. He could not control the fact that his father preferred him or that his brothers hated feeling inferior to him. Though he had no control over these things he maintained his integrity and remained honest. Some people might hide their ability to have visions or interpret dreams because perhaps people will not like what you have to say. Joseph goes with the events as the come his way and though he does not understand the “why” destiny continues moving him in a certain direction.
No matter what is happening in our lives, we really do not have 100% control over events that lead us to where we are today. We make goals and plan but most of us do not end up in our late 30s where we expected to be in our early 20s. Troubles might come upon us that we do not like, they might be troubles of money, troubles with health, or work problems. Whatever the problems we face, whatever doors close on us there is a greater thing at work. When we trust that and remained focused on the fact that there is a reason for it all, there is a place we are going that we need to be at a precise moment under specific circumstances for other amazing things to happen, we then can accept our circumstances. When we can accept our troubles as stepping stones to our destiny we can move forward with confidence instead of fear.
There is a line in the move, Shakespeare in Love (cca. 1998) that applies very well to this concept. Two characters are discussing how things tend to just work out in the theatre business and the man Hugh Fennyman asks Philip Henslowe how does it work out? Mr Henslowe says, “I don’t know, it’s a mystery.” It’s comic but true! Somehow, some way things tend to just work themselves out and often we find once we get past the troubles we are in a much better place. After all, if Joseph had not traveled on his difficult path thrust upon him, many people in Egypt and surrounding areas, including his own family, would likely have starved to death during the famine that comes about in the next Parsha.
So next time you are going through troubles, remember this story and that though you might not know how the mystery of it all works, just know that it does work. Stay positive, don’t panic, and walk along these stepping stones to your destiny.