What Do I Do First?

 By Allison Flowers

 

May I ask you a question?

When something unexpected happens in your life, and it leaves you shaken, what do you do first? Do you immediately call your spouse, friend, or family member? Do you immediately post on social media asking for advice or prayers?

 

None of these are necessarily wrong. We need people in our lives who can provide biblical counsel and prayer when our world is shaken (Proverbs 11:14).  

But the point is what do you do FIRST?

My friend, God needs to be your first thought and action. He needs to be the first person you turn to when life starts to crumble. Depending on the circumstances, turning to God may be hard, but I urge you to run to the One who has all the answers. 

Joseph set a great example.

Joseph was a young man who knew in all situations, God was to be kept first. Joseph’s life started out smoothly. Joseph was loved by his father and had been chosen by God to rule as was revealed to him in his dreams (Genesis 37:3-10). However, Joseph’s life changed drastically in one day. In the span of one day, Joseph was sold into slavery and transported to a whole new place, Egypt.  

Joseph had every right to be angry, bitter, hurt, and so many other emotions based off the injustices he’d been dealt. Yet, we never read about Joseph portraying any of those emotions or feelings. 

Surely, he had them because he was human, but we never read about it. Instead, in Genesis 39:2-5 we read about how the Lord was with Joseph and how God blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. Throughout all of Joseph’s life, we witness trial after trial, along with God’s presence and blessing. All the way to the end of Joseph’s story we see that Joseph remained faithful to the Lord. Genesis 50:20 shows us that Joseph recognized how God had taken his hard, life changing circumstances, and used them for good. God allowed Joseph to be greatly used and blessed for God’s glory but it was a long difficult road. Amidst all the ups and downs, Joseph kept God first. 

No matter what you’re facing, you can keep God first and come through victorious just as Joseph did. 

When you don’t know what to do, I challenge you to turn to God first. Look at the verses below and be comforted in the truth that God has given you (John 16:33).

• God is good: Psalm 86:11, Nahum 1:7, Psalm 143:10

• God is with you: Psalm 46:1, Isaiah 43:1-5, Isaiah 41:9-10, 13

• God will sustain you: Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 27:13-14, Lamentations 3:22-23

• God will bless you: 1 Peter 4:19, Romans 8:18, Romans 8:28

 Allison Flowers is a young lady who desires to serve the Lord wherever He leads. She lives in the South where you’ll find her reading, playing with her dogs, or going for a hike.