Has This Year Turned Out Differently Than You Expected?
“Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.” (Genesis 39:20-22)
Joseph was given dreams about what would happen in his lifetime. However, this provoked jealousy among his brothers, eventually leading to Joseph being sold into slavery.
However, the Bible reveals that the Lord was with Joseph and caused him to prosper in the foreign land.
Not long after, a dramatic change in circumstances landed Joseph in a place he surely did not expect. He was imprisoned over a false allegation and would remain there for seven years. His circumstances were less than ideal, to say the least.
And yet, the Lord never left him alone.
Scripture reads:
“The Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warden” (Gen. 39:21).
Years later, we discover Joseph’s prison sentence ended, as Pharaoh requested the interpretation of a troubling dream. Joseph recognized the source of his strength as he responded to Pharaoh’s request.
“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” (Gen. 41:16)
Joseph went on to take charge over Egypt. He was married, had two children, and eventually invited his family to join him in the provision God had granted by His mercies.
I don’t know where you are in your journey. Maybe you feel like you are on top of the world and are currently walking in the prayers you had prayed long ago.
Or perhaps, you resonate with Joseph in prison, where your life has taken a very unexpected turn. You are starting 2023 in a place very different from what you envisioned at the start of the year.
Like Joseph, God is with His children in times of abundance and when it feels like we are in a prison.
His love is constant, and His presence is far stronger than our feelings.
This does not minimize how we feel or our circumstances. Rather, it points to an unshakeable truth.
We must never mistake the difficulty of our circumstances for the absence of the Lord’s presence. Though this may be tempting, the Bible tells us a very different story.
God’s timing is sometimes different than ours, as Joseph experienced. He often works behind the scenes in ways we cannot see and may never fully be able to comprehend this side of heaven.
However, we can rely on this truth: He promises that all things work together for our good for those who love Him (Rom. 8:28).
I pray that this year, you will experience joy as you rest in the truth.
Through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, we never walk alone.
Blessings to you as you enter this new year!
In Christ,
