To Come This FarSample

"We did not come this far, just to come this far."

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 (NIV)

Nothing proves this verse to be more accurate than the bible story of Joseph. (Read this story starting in Genesis 37.) Ultimately, God’s plan for Joseph was to elevate him to one of the highest positions in the land. God would allow him to use this position to save his family and all those he was in charge of, but Joseph had to go through a rough season or two before the plan was fulfilled. After being thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, thrown in jail, and forgotten about… he stayed faithful to God and still saw God’s perfect plan happen. Talk about a comeback story!

What can we learn from his example? Regardless of the season of life, Joseph served faithfully, served with excellence, and endured! Because of this, God did not abandon him. The events of Joseph’s life were not for nothing. In the end, they led him further than he ever could have imagined.

The past two days, we have talked about making a conscious decision to pursue something greater and finding the resilience to continue that pursuit in the face of adversity. I want to end this devotional series by emphasizing this: You have a purpose. There is a reason you are here. Just like the story of Joseph, the events of your life—whether good or not—have meaning to them. If you continue to put your faith in God and move in the right direction, you will see His ultimate plan and proof that all things work for good for those who love Him.

God’s got you, so enjoy the process! Imagine life’s highs and lows like pieces of a puzzle. Some parts are easy and fit in right away; others don’t seem to make sense at first, but they are all necessary to complete the big picture. Everything has a purpose, whether you see it right away or not. Allow God to finish His work in you, and trust Him to work all things out for good. He will not leave you hanging in your trials! Remember: You did not come this far, just to come this far.