When You Are The Answer

[Joseph said,] “My suggestion is that you find the wisest man in Egypt and put him in charge of a nationwide program.” Genesis 41:33

What do you do when you are the answer to your own advice? Joseph was the only one who could interpret Pharaoh’s dream. He knew what Pharaoh needed to do to ensure that his nation would survive the coming famine, and he clearly laid out the plan of success for the entire land of Egypt.

Pharaoh was looking for answers, and Joseph had them. The challenge for Joseph was that he was the answer. The people of Egypt needed a man with the kind of discernment Joseph had, the kind of wisdom he had, and the kind of clarity he had. In short, they needed Joseph.

God had invested thirty years preparing Joseph for this moment, so Joseph was ready when the time came for him to provide clear, wise answers.

Accepting the challenge of being the answer means a lot of work, sometimes hard work. It means others will look to you for wise decisions. It means those around you will expect you to understand a situation or problem better than they do. It means an increase in your influence but a decrease in the amount of sleep you get. And sometimes it means the growth of your legacy and a rise in the stress in your life.

How do you respond when you are the answer to the challenge in front of you? Do you shrink away in fear, or do you step up and accept the task for which God has called you?

At some point in your life, God will call you to be the answer. The question you need to ask yourself now is, “What am I doing today to make sure I’m ready?”

God, give me wisdom to know when I am the answer and the strength and humility to be the kind of answer you want me to be.