Do you ever feel like your days are filled with one
messy relationship and situation after another?
During “messy” seasons, it’s easy for me to label my circumstances and myself as “a mess” and then wonder how God could ever use me, or my experiences, for good.
To protect my heart from discouragement, I often ask God to remind me of times when He has worked in ways I couldn’t have imagined, in my life and the lives of others. Recently He reminded me of Joseph’s story (Genesis 37-50). It reads like a series of very unfortunate events!
Imagine being beaten and thrown into a pit, sold as a slave and then relocated to a foreign country where you are falsely accused of a crime you didn’t commit and banished to die in prison. And to make matters worse, what if your siblings had initiated this evil against you?
That’s only the beginning of what happened to Joseph.
Looking behind the scenes of stories like his helps me see how God specializes in using messes to transform people into masterpieces of His grace. That’s exactly what He did here:
“[Joseph’s brothers] saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him … they stripped him of his robe … and they threw him into a pit” (Genesis 37:18, 23b–24, ESV).
Joseph was then taken to Egypt where he was sold as a slave to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. Could things get worse? They did when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, and despite Joseph resisting her advances, she accused him of attempting to rape her:
” … she called to the men of her household and said to them, ‘See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.’”
“As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him … his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison …” (Genesis 39:14-15, 19-20a).
In Potiphar’s house, Joseph learned servant leadership and integrity; in prison, Joseph learned forgiveness, wisdom and patience. He had been wronged multiple times, yet he experienced God’s guidance through the darkness that helped Joseph get out of prison:
“And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. … And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed” (Genesis 39:22-23, ESV).
In a messy pit, the house of Potiphar and a cold dark prison, God prepared Joseph for the amazing future and role he would play in rescuing God’s people and eventually bringing his family back together.
Through it all, Joseph stayed close to God and allowed his difficult circumstances to make him more dependent on the Lord. And in turn, God molded Joseph’s character into a great and godly leader — who was humble, loving, forgiving, patient and wise.
Friend, if you are feeling like you’re in a pit right now just like Joseph was, I want to encourage you: don’t despise the mess you’re in. As you surrender to Him and seek Him with all your heart, God will do behind-the-scenes work ~ as He prepares to unleash His limitless power in and through you!
Dear Lord, thank You for reminding me that You are always with me, just like You were with Joseph. When I face hard circumstances, I want to lean in and depend on You for wisdom, patience and grace. In all these things, I will remember that I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Are you ready to live beyond the limits of your circumstances, fears, negative labels and regrets? If so, join our next Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Study featuring the book, Limitless Life: You are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future.
It’s written by my personal friend and pastor, Derwin L.Gray. The study starts this week. Get more details and sign up here.
(Thank you for your interest in this bible study & giveaway, both are now over, but I would still love to hear from you!)
Exchange the feeling of “being stuck” with a sense of clarity and purpose as you learn how to unleash the limitless power of God’s truth and grace in your life. I’m giving away 5 copies of Limitless Life!
Enter to WIN by sharing your thoughts about today’s post below. {If you’re reading this via email, click here to visit my blog and leave a comment to enter.}
I don’t want nfto sound prideful, comparing myself to someone like Joseph, but his struggling sounds similar to where I am at. Not the circumstances themselves, but the fact that God is faithful and may be trying to accomplish things through where I’m at.
Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed by the things in my life, I try to remind myself of Joseph’s story.
Thanks for your encouraging words Renee. I am stopped cold many times because I am in a ‘mess’…such as when my husband and I are at odds…yep, it happens, even after almost 40 years. But I do not stay there long, because I do not listen to the lies of the enemy, but instead remember the words of our God and Savior. His promises and words of encouragement, love and hope keep us on track in our hearts and minds. Our women’s small group went through your book in our bible study and I go to it time and time again to remember His promises!
Thanks for this giveaway!
Blessings on you and your family!
I appreciate the reminder to lean into Christ in our difficult times. It seems that I tend to retreat into myself when times get tough.
Thank you so much for this beautiful reminder, Renee. It’s amazing how God uses difficult circumstances to mold us for future roles, as you say “He prepares to unleash His limitless power in and through you!” Love this promise of sunshine! 🙂
I don’t know who I’m supposed to be yet and I’m no spring chick…so I am looking forward to making time to read this book. It seems that my life is in a mess most of the time – these past 2 years have been extremely difficult. Health issues for myself and my husband and one of our grandsons – family erruptions – becoming guardians of a child as we reach our mid 60’s – self pity looms – exhausted daily – directionless – Yet I still have a hope in me.
I would love to read this. I often ask the Lord to remind me of his goodness when I seem to think about circumstances that are beyond my control. I am reminded that He is in control over all my life and family circumstances. I continue to trust Him and praise Him.
Hallelujah to our Lord and Savior!!
I am in the class and have started reading the book, Limitless Life. The book is the kind of book I would like to share with others. I know the class is going to be great. By the way, the story of Joseph is one of my favorites since childhood. It is such an encouraging and inspiring story.
Father I submit all my messes to you. Use them. I want to stop being ashamed of them. Amen
I was part of the pre-launch team for Limitless Life. I was privileged to read the entire book before it was released and found it to be great. I even had some of my favorite quotes from it posted in my bedroom for quite a while. I still have the pre-launch e-book on my computer and am looking forward to being able to participate in the study with other folks.
This post spoke to me in the deepest parts of my heart and soul today. As I watch my father deteriorate right before my eyes due to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, I often feel helpless and hopeless. I don’t like witnessing his physical and mental decline, knowing there is nothing in my power I can do to stop it. It is in these moments of despair that I need to turn to God for strength and comfort. If my dad could speak, there is no doubt in my mind that he would tell me to be happy, cherish each day, live in the moment, and take care of my health versus being overcome with sadness and worry. God, please reach out and give my father and I a personal revelation of your unconditional love. I feel alone and sad. I need to start living again.
Your story brought me to tears, thank you for sharing. You are brave to stick it out with your father. I’m Praying joy, peace, and blessings over you, as well as God’s unconditional love to be shown to you and your father in new ways. You are more than a conqueror through Christ! God is using you, and will continue to use you in amazing ways. Don’t lose hope–through it you are bringing others hope with your life – a living testimony. Fight the good fight – 2 Timothy 4:7.
I am SO looking forward to this Bible study!!! I enjoyed today’s message, as Joseph is one of my favorite people!!! So glad to be on board with y’all 🙂
I am reding this as I stand by my good friend who just lost her dtr via suicide. I can attest to the fact that God can does and will turn anything and everything (as we allow Him) to the good. The devil may have won this battle but he will not win the war of our souls. Thank you
Oops! Thanks Renee.
Thanks Karen for today’s devotional would love to win a copy because I can’t afford one at this time. I usually would get the Kindle tablet version (which is cheaper), but I can’t afford that. Paying that I’m in that number.
Wow how powerfully your devotion spoke to me this morning! I feel like my life is one series of trials after another & like Joeseph’s they just seem to go on & on with very little reprieve or even glimpses of their purpose. I struggle with codependency, resentment , co addiction & my multiple sclerosis. My husband is a recovering sex addict who despite recovering still focuses on his pain not the damage his addiction has done to our marriage. Lack of intimacy, my own damaged self esteem & circumstances has me feeling beaten down Thank you for the hope in your devotion & the opportunity to win your book. I believe it would help me greatly.
Joseph is my favorite bible story for this very reason. Last year was a very difficult one with several types of losses and disappointments, ending with losing a property from my first husband that we had over $250,000 invested in over the years. After praying for 25 years to be able to sell it and have that money for retirement, giving to the Kingdom etc it was huge disappointment. But I had to surrender to the fact that God alone knows the whole picture and the why and to trust in Him
Thanks for the encouraging post. God is always amazing! This story of Joseph has always been one of my top stories in Bible. Of course, Jesus tops them all!
I am in one of these messes right now and have been praying this morning about being anxious about nothing and bringing your requests before God, with thanksgiving. Thank you for this opportunity to win this book. Have a great and wonderful day. Blessings to you and your family.
I would love to win a copy!
This devotional came right at the perfect time, a time where I’ve been entertaining negative self talk repeating to my self over and over “you are such a mess”. After reading the devotional the Lord reminded me of the many times He has taken my circumstances and changed them for the best, He reminded me that He is in control of my life, and ultimately His grace is more than sufficient for me and my circumstances.
God has helped me through several messes in my life and I trust that He will continue to do so. Thanks for the reminder and the chance to win this book.
Thanks for the great reminder. It has been hard since 02/2012. I have gone through many messies. And still do. Have come to rely more on God which has helped deal with several issues that are still ongoing. Thanks so much for the post. Mary
Amazing! This really spoke to me this morning. God has blessed me & lead me through trials in the past. I need to continue to lean on Him & He will lead me through these tough times again! Thank you Renee for reminding me of this.
Charity, praying for you, your marriage and family.
Renee this scripture study is exactly what I needed. I have been reminded of my greatest challenges and how Jesus has bought me through. I am in awe when I see how far I have come and it makes it easier to hunker down in faith with Jesus and go wherever He is leading me. This is my favorite story because I am reminded how God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction Gen. 41:52. The very thing that hurt me to my core (back then it hurt but God has taken the pain away now!) is the very thing God uses to get through to the people I service on my job. Others are weary with trying and give up hope but I remember when my son and I were homeless, hungry and living in housing but God used that time to build character, integrity and humility into our lives. When I talk to men and women who are where we were I tell them Jesus did this. I.m glad we were there we couldn’t enjoy here without being there! What joy it is to spread hope even though I may have trials now I still get to share what was my greatest pain that is now my greatest joy! My son was 5 yrs old then and he is 27 yrs old now. He is like Joseph to me because of it. Thanks Renee! Hold on Beloved’s God isn’t through with us!
Wow! Thank you for writing this Renee!! God has spoken to me yet again thru you. I know he has great plans for me and wants to use me for something. I have gotten involved with many things and outreaches at church, but just don’t know where I fit in. I can’t seem to figure out where I’m gifted. Then I listen to the enemy who tells me I’m worthless and will never be good at anything and then I get discouraged. It is so hard to be like Joseph and others in the Bible to be so patient and trust in God so completely. I know I need to do this study and I hope if I start it I can finish it. These studies move so fast and are hard to keep up with. I have started so many, and some I have gotten more than half way thru, but I get behind and then I give up. I pray that God will show me soon if this study is where He wants me now, and if it is, thst He will give me the strength and skills to keep up.
Definitely feeling like low right now…my husband is thinking he would like out of our marriage. We have two small children. would greatly appreciate your prayers! Thank you!
Thank you for this wonderful story and reminder. When I am in the middle of hard times too often I shut down and lose sight of the fact that God is there to always guide me. God bless you!
It is so overwhelming how the Lord works when we need him. The present circumstances I am facing with him is almost knocked me back.. employment, mariiage, personal doubt at times…. he knows the reason for the character building right now and I just cling to Jeremiah 29:11! Thank you Renee’, for allowing God to use in his timing and the opportunity for the book. May he continue to bless you and all you do!
sounds like truth that I need to embrace right now.
Thanks
Your message is God’s perfect timing in the pit I’m in right now. Yes, God will use this and every circumstance for my good. It’s just hard sometimes when the pain and sorrow is so great. God has been whispering to me that He has better things for me if I will just give him what I have.
Too often, as I’ve gotten older, I feel a “mess”… useless, slow, and overwhelmed. Thanks for the much needed reminder that our God is right there with me-and not finished with me yet!
WOW and I thought I was the only one going through trials. I think in the last 6 months God has been trying hard to get my attention and I have been listening but it seems that no matter what something else happens and I am alone again. Alone at least in this world by humans but not by Him…I have felt Him there through it all.
Wow, were you reading my journal. “What a mess I feel my life is in at this moment in time.” That was just what I had put in my journal Sunday, May 25th. I am on a Sabbatical for the summer to find where God is taking me this summer, in this new season of my life. So many things going on that I feel like I am in a mess. Family discord, financial, physical, and so much more.
I know that God is in control and has a plan. He knew I would be here today and all that He has planned for me at this time. He will never leave me but walk with me through this mess called life.
God has been using the book of Acts (our sermon series) and some other devotionals, and books I am reading to teach me the things I need to know regarding where I am at in my mess. Yesterday He revealed my part in the mess and some things I need to do to clean up the messes. This week I will be having some courageous conversations as I go to people I need to ask for forgiveness from. I am also so blessed with prayer partners who pray for me and keep me accountable.
God knows every detail of my life. I am looking forward to what He will show me through this study and my personal time with Him this summer.
My life lately has been one mess after another. Through my trials I have learned to look to Jesus instead of my circumstances. Thank you for this reminder that God has a plan and I just need to trust him more with my whole life.
Life does get messy and disappointing. God has brought me through so many heartaches where He planned something MUCH better for me. While in the midst of it, I do get discouraged, but He never stops working behind the scenes. Praise the Lord!
I feel like my life is a constant mess!! The house is a mess, laundry is never ending, finances are a mess, everything is so unorganized. Aaaagghhh! It just makes me crazy some days, but I try really hard to live “let go and let God!” But there are those days when the defeat can become overwhelming. Reading this devotion about Joseph’s trial, it really reminds me that things could be worse, but God is always there with his support and guidance. God is good, all the time!
Thank you for your post. The past 7 years have been a season of challenges and disappointments for me. Thankfully unlike Joseph I have family and friends that bring joy into my life. Struggling to find the right direction to turn to and your resources always remind me that God has a plan and everything will fit together in the end.
Oh what a great reminder! Soothes the soul. Sometimes it can be hard to look beyond the situation. Keeping my eyes focused on Jesus, not the waves
It is so easy to be overcome by the trials in our life. When the trials are many so often hope wanes. I am guilty of becoming so overwhelmed in the trials that I forget to hand it over to Jesus, and when that happens hopelessness sets in. In this walk with Christ I can now look back, and see with the help of Jesus, those areas in my life where I have grown because of the trials. Thank you Renee for reminding us where to look when those trials come.
Joseph was such a wonderful example to us on how God will take care of us and bless us even in the midst of trial and suffering. God is faithful! I love the verse in Isaiah 26:3 – “Thous wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” It’s so difficult to not let your heart and mind get overwhelmed with worry, stress, and regrets when you are going through a trial. I had a very dear Christian friend commit suicide recently. There was so much pain in the community and a people started placing blame on others. It was a very dark time in my life, but praise God, He is bringing healing and He is getting glory through the loss of my friend’s life, despite broken hearts and the cruel ones who spread painful and untrue rumors about me and others during this time. I definitely am no Joseph…. I have regrets and I have a long way to go in my walk with Jesus. But with the Holy Spirit’s help, I am learning to keep my mind on the One who gives us peace. Thank you for your blog and your books….they are helping to make a difference in my life and others and point us to Jesus.
I am in that season of my life right now and this devotion spoke volumes to my heart! To God be the glory!
I am walking with a friend through an extremely difficult time right now. Every part of her life(wayward child, sick parents, checked out husband, her health) seems determined to put her on trial and leaving her feeling abandoned and questioning her worth. She’s at the point where she feels she has nothing left to give. Hoping these will be encouraging and promised-filled words for her.
For the last 3 years, I have gone through many trials and tribulations. It seems sometimes that I feel I am doomed for bad luck and want to just give up. But I am reminded of God’s grace and mercy while remembering my great uncle telling me the story of Joseph. Though I have lost my job, home, car, friends and learned who my true family is, I have learned to rely on God, be patient and have faith that there is a plan for me and God will take care of me.
I pray you continue to bless me with your words and the book Limitless Life.
This is a great reminder not to focus on the hardships but the great blessings He’s already provided.
He is a great and mighty God! Thank you for sharing this.
I can remember a time, just in the last year that I was in a time such as that. And I thank God that I leaned on him, that I did not turn from him. So now I pray that God will mold me as he did Joseph and make me wise and use me as he sees fit. To God be the Glory! I have already had some awesome opportunities to share my story, lift others up and prayfully give them hope that there is a light at the end of this tunnel.
God never fails us. He is always with us. He is doing His work in and through us. We must wait on Him and He will take care of us in every situation. Praise The Lord!
These are great reminders and totally spot-on! Thank you for writing this encouraging and important post, it made a difference to my day :0)
You have a beautiful heart!
-Ava Sophie
You caught me at the first sentence … Remind me of how He has worked in my life as I never imagined I would be where I m today but know that I’ve been leaning each of the past three years on the Rock that doesn’t move. Thanks for the opportunity to receive a copy do the book.