One of my very favorite stories in the Bible is Joseph of the Old Testament. He was the favorite son of Jacob (who would later become the nation of Israel). Everyone knew he was the favorite, especially his brothers. But when Joseph started having dreams about things God was revealing to him, his brothers had had enough, threw him in a pit and then sold to some slave traders.
But that wasn’t the end of the story, or of Joseph’s trouble.
Joseph became a slave in a prominent man’s home and proved himself a worthy servant, which was a pretty good gig-until he was thrown in prison because of something he didn’t do.
This whole situation seems very unjust, and it would be easy to get depressed, discouraged, and grumble about why things worked out the way they did.
But what I love about this story is how Joesph handled being at the lows in his life. He did the only thing you really can do when you are at rock bottom- look up.
Jospeh was able to bear everything life threw at him because he didn’t keep his eyes on the pit or prison- he looked up and kept his eyes on God. His faith in God and his hope in the promises that God had given him saw him through. Looking up kept Joseph focused on Gods plan and purpose for his life, not his own.
If we continue on with the story, Joseph’s trust in God didn’t let him down. God was faithful to restore Joseph and placed him in a very high position of power (second in power of all of Egypt). Here he was able to save his entire family and be reunited with them.
How many times have we had circumstances that feel like being thrown into a pit? Or even a dungeon? There is only one thing you can do- look up.
Look up to the one who is faithful and true, to the one who promises not to harm you but give you a hope and a future. Look up to the one who knows you better than you know yourself, and who has a plan for your life. Look up to the one who loves you so much that he sent his only son to die on a cross so that you may spend eternity with him.
My prayer for you is that when you are faced with life’s troubles is that you remember to look up.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalms 139:13–14 NIV
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 NIV
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