There are times when we wonder where God is in all that we are going through. We may even wonder what we did to cause the pain we feel. God does allow things to happen to us but it’s often the enemy working in other people or the circumstance. God wants us to live free from spiritual hurt, but we must remember Jesus’ suffered as a perfection something we will never measure up to. I won’t say it’s wrong to question the pain we face in life, but we must remember it’s a part of life.

Let’s take a look at the story of Joseph, the visionary. Here we will see pain, but will also see him redeemed from it.

Now when they saw him afar off even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, “Some wild beast has devoured him. We shall see what will become of his dreams (Genesis 37:18-20).

We see here the heart of jealousy Joseph’s brothers had because of his God given ability to interpret dreams. Joseph had done nothing to his brothers but the evil in their hearts caused them to turn against him to the point to try and destroy his life. Joseph was a young man in this scripture.

Sometimes this is our story. Someone has taken advantage of us out of wickedness and we have done nothing to deserve it. There are too many people blaming victims for the evil people plot and scheme against other people.

Let’s see God work in Joseph’s life.

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And the master saw that the lord was with him.

At this point in Genesis Joseph has been thrown into the pit and his father was told that a bear ate him by his manipulative brothers which was a lie. He became a slave and now a servant to Potiphar but God is with him. God is with him so much that his master sees it.

Let this be a lesson to us we can go through things but God is present. Joseph is a servant in another man’s house but God is with him so much the master sees it. Think back to how much God has favored you in unfortunate circumstances. Times where you thought the enemy would win and you would lose. Times where you should have lost your mind and been shut in somewhere.

Let’s look at more struggles for Joseph.

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife… “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” that she caught him by his garment saying lie with me. But he left his garment in her hand and fled and ran outside. .. The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came into me to mock me (lie). Then Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined (Genesis 39:6-20).

Set up for Joseph’s redemption.

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; And Pharaoh said to Joseph I have a dream and there is no one to interpret it. Joseph answered Pharaoh saying it is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace (Genesis 41:14-16).

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, Inasmuch as God has shown you all this there is no one discerning as wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word, only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you (Genesis 41:39-40).

Joseph faced many challenges but God had a plan for his life. We must stop focusing on what we see, who left, what we lost, and who betrayed us. God placed the ability to interpret dreams in Joseph. His brothers despised the gift so much that they caused him to struggle. It was that same gift that rose him to power beside the Pharaoh of that era. Joseph probably did not see a way out if the prison but his gift made room for him to be blessed (Proverbs 18:16).

It does not matter how long it takes God will restore what the enemy tried to steal. Keep reading because Joseph will see his brothers again. This time he will be the one that they need.

God loved Joseph past what He was going through. Being in prison was the setup for greater for Joseph. God pruned him for greater. I know the things he faced did not feel good, but they worked out for his good (Romans 8:28). God will do the same in our lives. I know it can be hard, but shift your focus to what God is doing and never give up. God sees what you are going through. He loves you and wants to see you out of the pit and redeemed just like Joseph.