It’s not you, but God!

Acts 7:9-16

1/26/25

Mars Hill UMC Family Worship

 

<Ice Suncatcher>

Have you ever waited for freezing weather? Usually, we don’t, but recently my children and I wished for cold weather so that our ice suncatcher wouldn’t melt. A few weeks ago, we made it with dried flowers that held memories. Pink carnations were from last Valentine’s Day. Purple and yellow petals came from flowers my husband gave me after my last surgery. Happy and sad moments are woven into that ice. It shines beautifully in the cold.

This reminds me of Romans 8:28: “All things work for good to those who love God and live according to His will.” Like the suncatcher, our lives hold invisible moments—woven together with joys and sorrows. When God’s light shines through them, they reflect His glory.

 

<Joseph’s Suncatcher>

The Bible paints a beautiful picture of God’s work in Joseph’s life, much like a suncatcher reflecting light through every trial and triumph. Joseph was the long-awaited son of Jacob and Rachel, the wife Jacob truly loved. Though Jacob already had ten sons from other wives, he cherished Joseph deeply. Jacob’s favoritism was evident when he gave Joseph a colorful coat, symbolizing his special place in Jacob’s heart. Tragically, Joseph lost his mother at a young age, which likely made Jacob love him even more.

However, Joseph’s lack of maturity led to tension with his brothers. He tattled on them to their father, bragged about his dreams of them bowing down to him, and seemed unaware of how his actions provoked their jealousy. This envy turned to hatred, and when the opportunity arose, his brothers sold him into slavery.

Joseph’s life took a sharp turn. He wore the clothes of a slave in Potiphar’s house, where he faced injustice. Later, he wore the clothes of a prisoner, falsely accused and locked away. For 13 long years, Joseph endured suffering and hardship. If we were in his shoes, we might feel anger, bitterness, self-pity, or a desire for revenge. But Joseph’s story is remarkable because of one truth: God was with him.

The Bible repeats this assurance: “The Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39). In every season of his life, God’s presence brought rescue, favor, and prosperity.

“The patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him, and rescued him from all his afflictions, and enabled him to win favor and to show wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh”(Acts 7:10)

God not only rescued him, but also let him have favor and wisdom to prosper. We can find Joseph’s life with God in three times.

• In Potiphar’s house: “His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did” (Genesis 39:3). Joseph became the overseer of Potiphar’s household, and the Lord blessed everything under Joseph’s care.
• In prison: “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love. He gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer” (Genesis 39:21). Whatever Joseph did, God made it succeed.
• In Pharaoh’s court: When Joseph became the second ruler of Egypt, he named his sons to reflect God’s faithfulness:
• Manasseh: “God has made me forget all my hardship and my father’s house.”
• Ephraim: “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering” (Genesis 41:51-52).

Joseph invited God into every season of his life. He trusted God’s hand through his trials, and when he finally reunited with his brothers, his response was filled with grace and forgiveness. Instead of blaming them, Joseph proclaimed God’s sovereignty:

“Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life… So it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Genesis 45:5-8).

Is it amazing? He not only forgave his brother, but also concern them on behalf of them. Joseph’s suncatcher was woven with colorful clothes, the sweat of slavery, the tears of imprisonment, and the golden crown of Egypt—all reflecting God’s grace. Through his life, God’s light shone brightly, blessing not only Joseph but his entire family and countless others.

Joseph’s story reminds us that God can take the broken pieces of our lives and create something beautiful that reflects His glory. No matter the season, the Lord is with us.

 

 

 

<Jesus’ Suncatcher>

Joseph’s story points us to Jesus. Like Joseph, Jesus wore many “clothes.” He was the Creator clothed in glory. Then, He took on the humble clothes of a baby, and later, He was stripped and hung on a cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34) We can’t find anger, bitterness, self-pity, or a desire for revenge. Jesus cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” Jesus had never separation from God, but in this moment when he bore the weight of the world’s sin, he felt emptiness. However He trusted the Father’s plan. Three days later, He rose, clothed in glory as the resurrected Son of God. Jesus’ suncatcher shines with the Creator’s light, baby’s blankets, the humility of the cross, and the victory of the resurrection.

 

<Our Suncatcher>
As I listen to our church family’s stories, I see the invisible suncatchers in your lives. They hold petals of joy -birth, children’s growing, fruits from hard work, and tears of loss—through illness, family challenges, and even death.

Though our bodies may age like dried flowers, God makes our suncatchers beautiful.

• Our physical eyes may grow dim, but our spiritual eyes see clearer.
• Our hands may weaken, but our spiritual hands grow warmer to hold others.
• Our knees may falter, but our spiritual knees grow stronger to stand in faith.

Even as our health fades, our spiritual strength grows, preparing us for our eternal home.

 

<The Resilient Life>

The lives of Joseph, Jesus, and in our own "suncatchers" remind me of this word “Resilience” Resilience is defined as “the capacity to stay steady in the face of challenges or changes.” It is the ability to recover from hardships or adapt to shifts in life.

Gordon MacDonald, in The Resilient Life, compares life to a marathon. Resilience isn’t something we’re born with; it’s built through intentional choices and discipline. He emphasizes the importance of spiritual roots, mentors, and friends to help us persevere. MacDonald’s mother came from a family of quitters, but he chose a different path. Through prayer, Scripture, and relationships, he developed the resilience needed to finish life’s race well.

Resilience is not about avoiding hardship but about trusting God to carry us through. Just as glaciers sometimes flow against the wind due to the deep ocean currents beneath them, Joseph and Jesus faced strong winds of adversity, yet God, like the unseen current, guided them toward a resilient life.

How about us? How does the deep water of God guide us against the flow? I see it in our children and youth who overcome anxiety and fear in school or their personal lives. I see it in our church members who come to church every Sunday, knowing each gathering could be their last due to health or other challenges. Some people faithfully join us through online service. Whether in person or online, it takes effort and faith. I see it in their gratitude for their health, families, and circumstances. God is the deep water of our church, guiding us to move against the currents of difficulty and uncertainty.

 

Poet Mary Oliver, in her book When Death Comes, writes:
“When death comes like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,
I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
What is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?”

She continues:
“When it's over, I want to say: all my life,
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.”

When death comes, may we look back and see that we embraced all challenges and changes as Jesus’ bride, taking the world’s misfortunes into our arms with Him as our bridegroom.

And when we reflect on the suncatcher of our life, may we humbly say, “It’s not me, not you, not others—but God.”

Amen.