Journal excerpt continued from yesterday

And it's not just places; it's everything - people, situations... I would have been done with [Someone] a long time ago if I didn't believe God had been asking me to tarry with him. That's not such a powerful testimony yet, but when God does an amazing thing in his life then it will be. It's knowing that God spoke that ties me to unpleasant experiences. I am thankful that He made it very clear that He was leading me because otherwise there's no way I would have followed. I would have said 'This isn't working. I don't like this. This is definitely not for me.'

And the unpleasant experiences are just the messy middle of the testimony. No matter what happens in the middle, in the end I am going to receive what God promised. Caterpillars can't become butterflies without going through chrysalis. There's always a process that takes you to the promise. I imagine what would have happened if Joseph had escaped from prison at some point during those 13 long years of captivity. Escaping from the prison would have also meant escaping from the palace. Maybe that's why God sometimes has to close off every other door - the destiny is too great. Joseph was imprisoned. He couldn't get out if he wanted to. It must have been miserable at times, but it was the only door that led to the palace and all God had for him. God had a plan to use him to save nations. [Gen 41:41-57]