Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
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. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
– Genesis 39:21-23
Devotion
If you are anything like me, when things go wrong in your life, you are quick to ask the question, “God, where are you in this?” In the midst of Joseph’s turmoil, the Bible says that “the Lord was with Joseph.”The Lord was with Joseph when his brothers sold him into slavery, when he was wrongfully convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, and when he was thrown into prison. In the midst of the hard times of Joseph’s life, God was with Joseph.
The same is true for us today. As followers of Christ, we can know that God is with us in the good times and in the bad. Not only can we know that God is with us but we can know that God is working for our good. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” It may not seem like it in the midst of our trials, but God is preparing something for us better than we can imagine. Often, what needs to be adjusted in the trial is our attitude and our perspective. Your Redeemer is on the way. He’s just not working on your schedule or according to your timeline.
The Big Question
How are you at suffering during trials? Do you go through the trial wondering where God is or do you suffer well, like Joseph? Think back to your last trial. How did you handle it? What can you do to prepare yourself to trust that God is with you and working for your good?
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.