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.}
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Renee, I often think of Joseph and all he went through as God prepared him to fulfill his great purpose according to God’s Divine plan. Joseph’s life story always gives me Hope for myself and others! Thank you for always sharing God’s Word to affirm our faith and trust in God! I signed up for the Limitless Life OBS but have not purchased a book yet. I thank you for an opportunity to win a copy. God bless!
Dear Renee,
Thanks for the reminder that God takes our messes and turns them into masterpieces if we are yielded to His will and willing to ask him what He desires to do in these seemingly dismal and dark moments of our lives. Thanks so much for this post. You really rock!!!
I know everyone, and especially me, needed to hear this. Especially right now in the midst of my mess, my low thoughts of myself and doubt of how God could use me right now, especially to love others is NOTHING compared to what God CAN do, and especially has done! I need to remember the things God has done in my life and how He has used me, because He has! Feelings and situations change, but God never does, and to focus on the present placement keeps us from the plan God has for us. Thank you for speaking truth into our lives!
Thank you for reminding me that God is always with me and in my messes working behind the scenes (with or without my cooperation). How patient He is with me! Trusting Him when life gets challenging and opening up my heart to let God work in me is difficult sometimes, but I’ve seen the love and faithfulness of God when I let Him in. Would love to win the book and join in the study. Thank you to P31 for making chapters 1 & 2 available.
oh how I need this…just a few short days from vacation and I topple down the stairs…a vacation our family so deperately needs. A time to rejuvenate, a time for us, a time away from the hustle and bustle. there are other things, things deep within. thoughts, financial issues, relationship strains, work…i need to understand where my place is, what does God have planned for me…a new corner to turn, a change, a big change?
Thanks for the post. It is a great reminder where our focus needs to be -on God not on the situations and mess of our lives. God is working and we need to evaluate what He wants us to do during these times.
The story of Joseph came very timely today. I certainly had been experiencing a mess when I turned to your website. Immediately hope turned on the light, that God could and would work as I surrendered the mess to Him. Even reminding me that He had been working His love in me in a deeper measure in my heart. More the mess, more the grace, more the praise.! Thank you for your faithfulness.
It’s always reassuring to know that God is with me through everything even though I tend to forget it at times. I am ready to live beyond the limits of my circumstances, fears and regrets
Renee, Just what I needed to encourage my discouraged heart and mind. Miraculously, my soul still remains steadfast even in the weakness of my flesh. My life, in reality, is a mess that has been so since my daddy’s death in an accident 20 years ago. Famines in my (and my precious mama’s) health, finances, relationships, broken engagement, betrayals, and the list goes on as I try to remain strong as the primary caregiver to my mom. I don’t know if I feel closer to Joseph’s or Job’s story…no matter because the Lord has allowed little shafts of sunlight into our lives over the last 20 years. I keep being reminded of a pavilion and how God has placed my mom and I within that place where Satan’s full fury does not touch us. I feel like a mess withina mess, but knowing I serve and trust my Lord with my entire being. Praying that if I’m not weary in well doing I will one day reap. Would love this book…God bless, Cynthia
The last 4 years have been a struggle. We moved away from everything we have ever known, all our family and our church. I know that God has a plan and that’s the only thing hat gets me through day to day. The struggle seems so long and I’m ashamed to say that I get focused on me sometimes but I know God loves me- I will hold on to that!
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.