Bible passage: Genesis 37:5–8 NLT. “One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.”
As God’s children, we believe He has a great plan and purpose for our future (Jeremiah 29:11), and for some of us, God has already revealed those plans. So what do we do when our current situation looks nothing like the great plans God has promised us?
In such moments, it’s natural to wonder whether we should lose faith and succumb to despair or continue to trust God despite the disparity between our current situation and His promises.
The story of Joseph offers profound wisdom because it teaches us that while God indeed has extraordinary plans for us, the journey to fulfilling those plans may be far from what we envision. The path can often be turbulent and unexpected. Joseph’s life is a testament to this truth. He received an amazing dream from God, revealing that he would become a king. Yet, he could never have imagined the arduous journey that lay ahead. Despite being his father’s favourite, Joseph faced betrayal and was sold into slavery by his brothers! The odds of a slave rising to become the governor of Egypt seemed impossible, especially for a foreigner. Yet, God’s plan prevailed, and Joseph’s dream was ultimately fulfilled.
This story serves as a powerful reminder that God’s ways are not ours (Click this link for a similar post on this topic). We often yearn for a clear roadmap detailing how God will fulfil His purpose in our lives. We may even invest significant time and effort trying to predict the journey ahead. But when things don’t unfold as anticipated, it’s natural to feel discouraged.
In times of uncertainty and doubt, take courage from Joseph’s story, and do not lose hope. Instead of obsessing over understanding how God will use your current situation to fulfil His purpose, focus on walking in obedience day by day and trusting God beyond what you can physically see right now.
If you’d like to explore Joseph’s journey from a slave to a governor, check out Genesis chapters 37 and 39-41. It will undoubtedly inspire and strengthen your faith in unpredictable twists and turns in life.
Here are a couple of encouraging verses you can check out:
Proverbs 3:6
Psalm 112:7
