Christ's love reaches down on us even when we are in the pit of our own destruction.
In the Bible, there are countless stories where faithful followers of Christ were thrust into desperate, dark and trying situations where they ended up being in a pit even though they did nothing wrong. One example is found in Genesis 39 where Joseph was put in prison because he was falsely accused of sleeping with his master’s wife. What makes this story even more unfortunate is the fact that even when things finally started looking bright for Joseph, something bad happened to him AGAIN. Prior to being thrown in jail, Joseph’s brothers betrayed him by throwing him in a pit and selling him off to slavery,
Doesn’t life feel like that sometimes? Just when you started feeling like you were finally catching your breath and moving in the right direction, something terrible happened and now you are back to square one.
Joseph was doing great in Egypt. He was successful and became overseer of an Egyptian master’s house. Things started to go awry when the master’s wife repeatedly hit on him. When Joseph refused her one too many times, she decided to get back at him by telling her husband—Joseph’s master—that Joseph slept with her. That lie sent Joseph to prison.
You are probably thinking some of the same thoughts I had while reading Joseph’s situation: That was terribly unfair! Joseph was trying to do the right thing but the wrong thing still ended up happening to him! What’s the point of doing good when bad things still happen?
My thoughts began to change when I read the next verse: “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (Genesis 39: 21).
You see, even though Joseph was in prison, God still gave him favor.
You might currently be undergoing a discouraging situation right now; know that the seeds of obedience, faithfulness, and integrity that you are planting will not go unnoticed by God. He will reward you and give you favor. Remember: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).
The key is not to faint or give up. Neither should you turn your back on God and do things your own way because you can’t see past your struggles or believe that God can turn your situation around.
I also want to bring to your attention that sometimes God will put us in devastating situations not because we did something wrong, but because he wants to use us to bring deliverance to someone else.
While being in prison, Joseph was able to interpret the dreams of two inmates (a baker and butler). Word eventually got out that God gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams and when Pharaoh desperately needed an interpretation of a startling dream he had, guess who he called? Joseph. Joseph was indeed able to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, and as a reward, Pharaoh made Joseph ruler of Egypt—second in command.
Jesus also had to die on the cross to pay for our sins and bring salvation to those who believe in Him, and Elijah’s brook dried up—his only source of water—as seen in 1 Kings 17 because God wanted to redirect him to a widow in Zarephath, located in Sidon, where he would receive food from her. After obeying God and going to meet the widow, Elijah not only received provision, but God enabled him to bring the widow’s dead son back to life thus proving to her and many that God is real and with them.
Many times, life will not go as planned. I encourage you to always remember that when you feel like you’re in prison, that your brook dried up, and that you are at the point of death, God has a plan and he will give you favor.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
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