God Prepares in the Places You Least Expect

I've been meditating on various parts of Joseph's story lately, and one of the new revelations I got from it is how every single season of trial Joseph encountered positioned him to fulfill His destiny.

He had to be sold into slavery, serve in Potiphar’s house, be falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, and be thrown into prison, where he would meet the man who would eventually mention his name to Pharaoh. That encounter was essential for Joseph to become second in command in Egypt and ultimately be the one God used to save his entire family.

However, it wouldn't have happened had he not first been sold into slavery by his brothers.

Every single season, trial, and obstacle that came Joseph's way was used by God to fulfill the promise He had shown him in a dream. For context, in Joseph's dreams, he saw his brothers’ sheaves of grain bowing to his, and later saw the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing to him.

"Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”[...]Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” (Genesis 37:5–6; 9)

It was a clear picture of future leadership and influence that ended up becoming his reality when he was second in command over Egypt, and his brothers came for help during the famine:

“So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.” (Genesis 42:6)

What God didn't show Joseph was that before His dream would be fulfilled, he would be sold into slavery by his brothers, and go on to be enslaved and imprisoned for 13 years.

While those 13 years were difficult for Joseph, God was with him, covered and protected him, and prepared him for the leadership position he would one day have.

Joseph was put in charge of Potiphar's affairs while he was enslaved in his house:

"The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned."(Genesis 39:2-4)

He was also put in charge of the other prisoners while he was in prison:

"the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." (Genesis 39:21-23)

In both seasons of trials, he had roles that felt like nothing He wanted, and yet they prepared him for the leadership position God had for him.

This has really encouraged me in this season to surrender to God's pace and to His process. We may not understand why we’re in the season we’re in, or what the Lord is shaping in us right now, but just like each season Joseph endured prepared Him for God's plan for His life, trust that this season of your life is preparing you for what God has in store for you. He is using every single thing you're walking through right now to prepare you for your destiny.

Here are some journaling prompts I encourage you to use to reflect on where you may be rushing ahead of God instead of waiting on his timing:

• What dreams has God given you that have yet to come to pass? How do you feel about that? Be open and honest with God about how you feel about the timing of your dreams becoming your reality.

• What is the last thing you know without a shadow of a doubt that God told you to do? Did you do it? Why or why not? What else have you taken on that may not be from God?

• How do you feel about the current season of your life? What about this season frustrates you? What are you in a hurry to leave behind? Be open and honest with God about how you feel and ask Him to help you trust that He has you here for a reason.