More happened to Joseph during his lifetime than happens to most people. He was loved by his father. Hated and betrayed by his brothers. They wanted to kill him but threw him in a pit instead then sold him to slave traders. He was bought as a slave and made to serve in Potiphar's house. He was taken from his home and his father living among strangers. He was tempted by Potiphar's wife and lied on because he would not give in to her lustful desires. He was thrown into prison and made to suffer in chains. Sounds like a hard life. Sounds like there wasn't anything good about it. It was filled with choices others made for him and not for himself. At the end of all these hardships he was promoted to the second highest position in Egypt. He "ruled" the world.
It wasn't until the end of his trial that he was able to see the whole picture. God had a purpose for Joseph and though it looked like others were "doing it to him", it was God sending him ahead to be in place for the great task of saving His people.
Hind sight is often 20/20 but we don't always have the luxury of living in hindsight. We live in the "here and now". Because of this all we see is what is happening in the present and we judge our circumstances accordingly. Often what we see as bad, from God's perspective He sees it as good. Don't misunderstand, He doesn't call evil good, but He sees the good that He can bring out of it. Yes, the brothers did an evil thing, but God brought great good out of it. Often what we see as a "demotion" God sees as a "promotion". With each new transition-- from his home, in to the pit, then in to slavery and next in to the prison-- Joseph saw demotion. It looked like he was getting further and further away from God's plan. But from God's perspective it was like a stepping stone placing him in the exact position and right place.
Don't get discouraged when things aren't going as you planned. Don't see the negative in it. Don't look at it as a demotion. Don't look at it as just another trying circumstance. Ask the Lord to show it to you from His perspective. You might be surprised because it may actually be bringing you one step closer to fulfilling God's plan.
Have a great day. Don't view your trying circumstances as a defeat or demotion, it may be the next stepping stone that is bringing you into your destiny.
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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