by Alena Wendall, @alenawendall

Which Coat Are You Wearing?

Do you remember the coat of many colors that Jacob made for Joseph? That coat was the start of something. He had a dream, but he ended up in a pit, thrown there by his brothers!

Before he got to the dream, he wore the coat of slavery. He went from favored son (Genesis 37:3-4) to less than a servant in Potiphar’s house.  

Sometimes life forces you to wear a coat that you would have never dreamed of or chosen for yourself. 

Joseph wore two very different coats before he got to the “Second-In-Command” coat. He went from wearing a “dream coat” to “slave coat” to the “jailbird coat.”

As you’re walking through life, when circumstances seem to get the best of you, remember God is with you. He has a plan for your dream, sometimes the road up the mountainside is crooked with steep inclines, but the view from the top of the mountain will be worth it. 

Remind yourself he’s given you the tools you need for this life we live. Joseph kept those tools close, we should too. 

• He loved God above all else. 

• Note his words when he was set up by Potiphar’s scheming wife. “He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God [and your husband]?” Genesis 39:9 AMP

• He forgave. Through each of his trails he didn’t get bitter. He kept his perspective. Look at what he said to his brothers:
  • “God sent me before you to preserve for you a posterity and to continue a remnant on the earth, to save your lives by a great escape and save for you many survivors.” Genesis‬ 45:7‬ AMPC‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

As you walk through this crazy dream to publication or continuing a career in writing, remember those obstacles that seem unscalable aren’t. If you are wearing the “rejection coat” or the “no time to write coat”—don’t lose your vision, one day you will wear the “author’s coat.”

It’s a good lesson for our characters to learn as well. 

Blessings,

Alena Tauriainen

Writing as Alena Wendall, Alena Tauriainen pens contemporary Christian romance novels that always end with a happily ever after. By day, she partners with her lifelong mate Clyde, to run the family HVAC business. She manages both business and family life with four lovable but crazy kids. She is the Retreats Coordinator for My Book Therapy. She is represented by Rachelle Gardner with Books & Such Literary Management. Visit her at alenawendall.com.