Sold Out

"Loyalty isn't straddling the fence of uncertainty. It's the fundamental building blocks of integrity that speaks the loudest without the presence of words."

I don't know the exact origin of the phrase, "loyalty over everything," but I know it sounds the alarm for many, like me, with a proven record of trust issues. I like to think that I'm a fairly easygoing, gentle spirit but I've had my share of mishaps. My social awkwardness has a history of rubbing people the wrong way on occasion. I have a heart of gold but I'm not big on "small talk," so people insist that it's difficult to read my energy. I disagree wholeheartedly! People that take the time to get to know me understand that there's a bubbly extrovert lying beneath the surface just waiting to exhale.

But loyalty, well that's a non-negotiable prerequisite for being in my space. My heart can't tolerate any less. I understand that my energy isn't welcomed by everyone and I've hit several access denied portals in the form of invitations that got lost in the mail, ignored friend requests, or smiles that tuned upside down when I walked in the room.

I can be so misunderstood at times. Talk about the "pink elephant" that goes completely unnoticed.

What about you?

Do people have some false preconceived notion about your character?

Do people single you out cause your fruit doesn't resemble theirs?

Have people thrown you "under the bus" for being different?

This was the second night of revival and the message, "The Price Tag for Purpose" had me feeling some kind of way. Here we were continuing with Joseph's story in Genesis and how his brothers plotted to kill him out of jealousy. I guess it's safe to assume that there must have been something awfully extraordinary under that coat that ignited such hatred.

The Pastor walked us through some of the measures his brothers took to orchestrate his demise. Yes, his brothers! The enemy seems to use those closest to our hearts to execute our downfall.

Joseph's story opened up some past unhealed emotional wounds that brought back some difficult memories.

A time that my character was brutally assassinated on a jury trial because I was thrown into a civil lawsuit as an heir of some personal property that became a complete ambush of greed.

A time that I became a target of a family member's selfish scheme to defraud a judicial system into granting them a free pass to lie and get away with it. (at my expense).

A time when I gave my love freely, despite the cost and got penalized for giving in the end.

I thought about my story, my pain, my struggles and my battle scars but I no longer felt like a victim.

I lost a lot of good relationships; because somehow no matter how much I managed to mind my own business, I became a moving target. Every time I attempted to do well, evil followed.

I can only imagine Joseph's pain and the rejection that he felt. I can imagine that he felt like he got a raw deal for being such a dreamer. And to add insult to injury, he suffered as an innocent man more than once. Isn’t that just like life, to knock you down to your knees on multiple occasions?

Thank God that despite the afflictions, the trials and tribulations that our seasons change.

The Pastor also noted that Joseph honored God during all of his seasons, no matter what.

You see, FREEDOM, it will cost you.

Joseph didn't get to skip the pit before he moved into the palace. He didn't get to reroute his enslaved journey. He didn't get the luxury to chose the good and leave the bad. He had to pay the price to get to the promise.

I know you think you were robbed of your birthright.

I know you think you missed your opportunity.

I know you think the pain will never cease.

BUT stop pitching your tent among the "naysayers" and stop feeding the doubt.

You no longer have to fight to restore your reputation.

You don't have to fight for the land.

Your promise wasn't forfeited in the fight.

When the enemy sold you out,

God bought you at a price.

"Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story--those he redeemed from the hand of the foe." Psalm 107:2