“And those he predestined, he also
called; those he called, he also
justified; those he justified, he also
glorified” (Romans 8:30).
Joseph’s direct communication with
God started early in his life. The
boldness with which he shared his
dreams with his siblings and parents
testified to his absolute dependence
on God to make them a reality,
irrespective of the how.
When things seemingly started
falling apart, when he was almost
killed, when he was sold as a slave
to unbelievers, Joseph maintained
his composure, and his unreserved
reliance upon and trust in God was
not shaken. When Joseph became
the chief of staff in Potiphar’s house,
he must have thought that God had
finally decided to make his dreams
come true. It didn’t happen that
way.
I have always imagined what went
through Joseph’s mind the first night
he spent in prison after Potiphar’s
wife lied against him. He must have
wondered why the only one who
witnessed the incident—God—de
cided to keep quiet. My conclusion
has always been that God’s Holy
Spirit must have comforted Joseph
with these portions of the Bible, as
indeed the Spirit does anybody
today who’s going through a
seemingly insurmountable challenge
when it seems as though God has
abandoned him or her.
“Before I formed thee in the belly I
knew thee; and before thou camest
forth out of the womb I sanctified
thee, and I ordained thee a prophet
unto the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).
“…weeping may endure for a night,
but joy cometh in the
morning” (Psalm 30:5).
“Knowing this, that the trying of
your faith worketh patience” (James
1:3).
“In His time, He makes all things
beautiful” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
“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).
“Is anything too hard for the
LORD?” (Genesis 18:14).
“I am the LORD, the God of all
mankind. Is anything too hard for
me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
“Let us hold fast the profession of
our faith without wavering; (for he is
faithful that promised)” (Hebrews
10:23).
“For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not
see wind, neither shall ye see rain;
yet that valley shall be filled with
water” (2 Kings 3:17).
“But Jesus beheld them, and said
unto them, With men this is
impossible; but with God all things
are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
“I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the ending, saith the
Lord, which is, and which was, and
which is to come, the
Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).
Rest assured, like Joseph, that
nothing surprises God. He’s aware of
what you are going through. The
reason He has seemingly not “done
anything” is because what you are
going through may be part of His
predestined plan for you!