By Hannah Bunting
Few biblical lives illustrate the purpose found in seasons of serving and waiting as powerfully as the life of Joseph. At seventeen years old, Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers. By thirty, he had become second only to Pharaoh, entrusted with governing Egypt and preparing the nation for a devastating famine. Through his position, Joseph helped save countless people from starvation, preserved his own family, and helped provide Israel a safe and bountiful land to live in as they grew into a nation.
When we summarize Joseph’s life that quickly, it sounds like a remarkable rise from hardship to success. Yet a great deal of suffering, serving, and waiting took place between the beginning of his story and its triumphant conclusion. When we look more closely at those difficult years, Joseph’s example offers encouragement and reveals how we, too, can find godly peace while we serve and wait.
After being stolen from his home by his own family and taken to Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. Although Joseph entered Potiphar’s household as a slave, the Lord blessed his work, and Potiphar eventually placed everything he owned under Joseph’s care. Then Potiphar’s wife, to use modern terms, repeatedly sexually harassed and even assaulted Joseph. When he refused to sin against both his master and his God, she falsely accused him. Joseph’s integrity did not bring immediate deliverance. It resulted in quite the opposite actually, and he was sent to prison.
If we heard of someone suffering in such dramatic ways today, how greatly would we pity him? We might even be tempted to excuse such a person from serving the Lord anymore, because of all that they wrongfully suffered. Yet, Joseph continues to serve faithfully while unjustly imprisoned. The prison keeper noticed him and eventually placed the other prisoners under his authority. While imprisoned, Joseph interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s servants, carefully giving God, not himself, the credit for his ability, encouraging those around him, and us, when he said, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” (Genesis 40:8).
Joseph asked the cupbearer, who was restored to his position, to remember him before Pharaoh. Nevertheless, the cupbearer forgot him. Yet again, Joseph waits. This time for two more full years before the man finally remembered his promise.
When Pharaoh was troubled by dreams no one could explain, Joseph was summoned. And yet again, Joseph refused to claim the glory for himself. “It is not in me,” he told Pharaoh, “God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer” (Genesis 41:16). After interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph proposed a plan to store food during seven plentiful years in preparation for seven years of famine. Recognizing Joseph’s God-given wisdom, Pharaoh placed him over Egypt.
Joseph had gone from being a slave and prisoner to becoming the second most powerful man in the land of the greatest nation at the time. When the great famine eventually brought his traitorous brothers before him, Joseph was given the opportunity to take revenge upon the men who had betrayed him. Instead, he forgave them and recognized God’s sovereign hand over his story. He later told them, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20).
We can see God’s plan when we look at Joseph’s completed story. Joseph, however, had to live it one uncertain day at a time.
Thirteen years passed between Joseph’s enslavement at seventeen and his elevation at thirty. Thirteen years! Think about who you were and what you were doing thirteen years ago. That length of time can feel like a lifetime. Joseph did not know when, or even whether, his circumstances would change. He could not see the famine ahead, his future position, or the day when he would be reunited with his family. But he continued to bloom where he was planted by faithfully and patiently serving, even when he was serving as lowly as a prisoner! And he continued to give God credit for his talents and glorified Him every chance he had.
Though most of us will not suffer in the same ways Joseph did, we still can endure seasons of waiting. Sometimes waiting means enduring an ordinary, seemingly uneventful season while longing for our next purpose to be revealed. At other times, as it was for Joseph, waiting involves affliction, injustice, and deep uncertainty. We can wonder why God is allowing the trial and why He has not brought relief more quickly.
So, how can we, many generations later, follow Joseph’s example, and find peace as we endure seasons of waiting?
We can keep a correct perspective, just as Joseph did when he continued to keep his eyes on God. As Paul says, “We do not lose heart…for this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (2 Cor 4:16-18). This does not mean we dismiss our own or someone else’s suffering as unimportant, but that we can consider life’s heaviest burdens as diminished when compared to the eternal glory awaiting us.
We can also remember that God is at work and is sovereign in our lives. God may be growing us in ways we cannot yet comprehend, just as He shaped Joseph through his trials into the man who would one day rule Egypt. We know God prunes us to be more fruitful (John 15:2) and we know He disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). No matter what type of season we are in, whether waiting or not, God is working something good in every single one of our lives, in every single circumstance. (Romans 8:28) If you are suffering heavily in your season of waiting, I do not believe this verse means to consider that insignificant. But just as the Lord used Joseph’s brothers’ utter evilness for good, God is able to work within anything that is painful or broken. There is no part of a believer’s life that is not a tool in our Almighty God’s hands. How incredible is that? The ruler of the entire universe is active in your life! If you choose to, no matter what your circumstances, you get to be an instrument for Him!
We also must be intentional about where we direct our thoughts. Philippians 4 instructs us to dwell upon what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. As our thoughts may drift to fear or dissatisfaction, we can redirect them toward God’s faithfulness throughout Scripture to people like Joseph and in our own lives. Remembering what God has done gives us peace as we wait to see what He will do. And if fear or worry persists, bring it to God, and look for reasons to give thanks instead (Philippians 4:6).
And finally, we must keep serving and proclaiming God’s glory. Just like Joseph. Joseph did not spend his years of waiting refusing to act until he received the life he wanted. He patiently served in the life he had been given as he pointed others to God’s power and faithfulness.
Inspired by Joseph, we can choose to find ways to honor God in our circumstances, even before the answers or relief we desire have come. Glorifying and pleasing God, after all, is our life’s purpose (Isaiah 43:7; 1 Cor 10:31; 2 Cor 5:9).
If you are waiting for direction or an answer to prayer, remember Joseph. Continue serving and trusting God’s character when you do not understand His plan. And be encouraged that thousands of years later, Joseph’s faithfulness in the waiting still strengthens God’s people. Who knows what God may be up to in your life?
I counted the phrase “The Lord was with Joseph,” three times in this story. God was with him on the road to slavery, He was with him in Potiphar’s house. God was with him in prison, and God was there when he was elevated to second in command.
“The Lord was with Joseph,” just as He is with you.