Life Is Messy, God Is GoodSample

Right Place, Wrong Time

Messy truth: What God starts, no person can stop. What God plans, no obstacle can thwart. What God wills, no enemy can defeat.

At times I’ve had to battle an imposter syndrome of feeling underqualified and overlooked in comparison with those who really have God’s favor.

I’m reminded of the story of Joseph (Genesis 37—50). His brothers sold him into slavery and lied to their father about his death because they were jealous he was their father’s favorite. Yet in the midst of slavery, Joseph found favor with the captain of Pharaoh’s guard and went from slave status to landing a power position in Potiphar’s house.

Unfortunately, he also found favor with Potiphar’s wife who tried unsuccessfully to seduce him. That landed him in jail. Pharaoh, however, began having bad dreams, and Joseph had the God-given ability to interpret them. Eventually, Joseph was released from prison and promoted to second-in-command under Pharaoh.

After a while, famine swept the land, and Pharaoh had extra rations (thanks to Joseph). Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt for grain but left with forgiveness and, in a full-circle moment, Joseph said these life-changing words: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20).

That’s the thing about God’s favor. It doesn’t typically look very favorable at the moment. His protection can feel like punishment, and His greatest plans will likely come at the expense of our comfort, our personal advancement, and our best-laid-out timelines. Great news, right? (Said with sarcasm.)

Joseph’s life models the long game of following God. It’s up, it’s down, it’s sometimes hard, and it’s often inexplicable. But in the end, Joseph saw his life through God’s lens and realized that without mean brothers there was no slavery, and without slavery, there was no Potiphar, and without Potiphar, there was no prison, and without prison, there was no Pharaoh, and without Pharaoh there was no grain and reconciliation.