![]() ![]() Don’t focus on the darkness fix your gaze upon the Lord. If you can’t see light at the end of your tunnel, you may be looking in the wrong direction. Only faithful obedience will allow us to grow in wisdom and maturity to serve Him. Why? Because our Father is building character in us. We must obey even when life makes the right choice difficult-or calls for personal sacrifice. Only through trusting and following Him in obedient faith can we carry out that plan. Experiencing God’s dependability during dark times is infinitely more effective than hearing about His trustworthiness. We all prefer to avoid learning the hard way, but lessons don’t become truly ours until they are tested and tried. His account would be recorded in Scripture to teach and bless countless individuals throughout history. His plan would save not only Joseph’s family but also the entire population of Egypt. The entire time, God was moving him toward His divine purpose: Joseph was to become prime minister. No matter where Joseph was-at the bottom of a pit, in Potiphar’s house, or in prison-he was walking toward the light. Often, we discover more in the dark times than we do in the light. Instead, surrender your will to Him and say, “Lord, I don’t understand this or like it, but I yield myself to whatever Your purpose is. So, though you want to rush through dark times, realize that it is precisely these experiences that build the most character. God, however, did not reveal to Joseph the plan or timetable, and He doesn’t tell us, either. God was preparing him for an awesome place of service-as second in command to Pharaoh. What’s more, he developed administrative and organizational skills, learned how to live under authority, and came to know how to manage others. How did the Lord use Joseph’s 13 dark years? Through his experiences at Potiphar’s house and in prison, Joseph learned the Egyptian language and customs. But if we could look through the darkness and see our future, we would thank God because we would understand His purpose for our trials. We all become impatient for stressful times to end. The darkness will last only as long as necessary for God to accomplish His purpose. The Lord’s sovereign direction of Joseph’s life illustrates the truth of Romans 8:28: “God causes all things to work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose.” Joseph later told his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to keep many people alive” (Gen. In God’s plan, he would act as savior of both his family and the entire Egyptian civilization during the 7-year famine. God had a purpose for every step of Joseph’s rocky journey. Sometimes, when we are wronged, our focus strays from God to our situation or to the people who have mistreated us. So for 13 years, he walked in the middle of adversity. Joseph was 17 when he was sold into slavery, and it wasn’t until he was 30 that he became prime minister of Egypt. ![]() No matter how disastrous a trial seems, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, God has a specific reason for permitting the hardship in your life. God has a purpose for allowing difficult times. In Hebrews 13:5, God says,“I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you.” There is no place so remote and no situation so desperate that we can ever be beyond God’s reach (Ps. Scripture teaches that the Lord was with Joseph through every event from slavery to imprisonment-God prospered him and gave him favor with Pharoah (Gen. Because of jealousy, Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him, but the Lord changed Reuben’s and Judah’s hearts (Gen. This is the foundational principle for seasons of hardship. In the story of Joseph, found in Genesis 37-39, we discover six principles by which to operate in challenging times. However, to refine us and help us become all He wants us to be, the Lord allows His children to encounter certain hardships and trials. As believers, we do not live in the darkness of sin (Col. It is vital to understand the difference between walking in darkness and walking through darkness. Scripture assures us that He has our best interest in mind and will work through even the dark times for our good. ![]() When we’re in the midst of trials, it is not possible to comprehend all God plans to accomplish through our difficulties. In these times, we may feel overwhelmed, confused, hopeless, and helpless. It’s sometimes difficult to understand why these trials have occurred. Often they are connected to relationships, finances, family, health, or career. ![]() We all experience challenges in our lives. ![]()
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