The Courage to Push Through

But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

— Genesis 50:19-20

Joseph’s story begins in Genesis 30. He was the eleventh-born and most favored son of his father, Jacob. But his brothers were jealous that their father loved Joseph best. And when Jacob bestowed a special gift on Joseph, they could stand it no longer, and they sold him into slavery. He spent much of his life in Egypt as a slave and a prisoner, even though he had done nothing wrong. Yet he held tight to his faith and found the courage to push through.

Many years and 20 chapters later, Joseph was named a ruler in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. When his brothers came to Egypt looking for food, they discovered Joseph instead and expected him to be angry with them. But Joseph realized that God had used his brothers’ actions, the struggles he endured and the position of power he finally held for good. God used Joseph to save his family as well as the nation of Israel and the line of the Messiah.

Evangelist, author and international speaker, Christine Caine said, “Just because things aren’t going the way you planned, doesn’t mean they’re not going the way they should. You can trust God. He is for you.”

Perhaps you are in a place where things aren’t going as you planned. Perhaps you feel like Joseph, abandoned by those who are supposed to love you or sentenced for a crime you haven’t committed. Just like in Joseph’s story, when God is present, He will change everything. You can trust Him to be faithful to complete the work He is doing in your life (Philippians 1:6). You may not be able to see it yet, but God is working all of this for something far greater than you could imagine. Refuse to give up. God is at work.

Today’s One Thing

Think about a time when you were in a terrible situation, but God used it for good. Write that down as a reminder when times get tough.

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