At the young age of 17, Joseph was kidnapped by jealous brothers, taken to a foreign land, sold into slavery, and finally thrown into prison for a crime he did not commit. Yet, throughout the whole ordeal and seemingly out of place, we read in scripture, “The Lord was with Joseph and made him a success” and “But God was with him…”

I don’t know about you but I have felt more like “God has forgotten me” than “God is with me” in such situations. Tending to believe that if God is with me and for me then surely life will be easy or at least not adversity filled.

Joseph understood that, though his circumstances were very difficult, God was in control. We know this because at the end of Joseph’s imprisonment, he declared to his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me but God meant it for good to bring about this present result.” Genesis 50:20. And in another place, “It was not you who sent me here, but God.” This dear brother rightly understood that God is in control, not man, and that in God’s faithfulness, affliction is permitted to graze our lives for greater purposes than we can imagine.

Is there a situation that has left you feeling alone and abandoned? Have you wrongly believed that if God were “with you” that your life’s circumstances wouldn’t be as they are? I understand having walked through much difficulty myself. May I gently encourage you to speak the truth, “You meant it for evil but God meant it for good. He is with me and in complete control.” Trust that through your life’s challenges, He is weaving something amazingly spectacular beyond all that you can imagine. Just ask me (and Joseph)! I know firsthand what He can do.

Just wait!

Submitted by Becky White

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