He called down famine on the land
Psalm 105:16-22 (NIV)
and destroyed all their supplies of food;
and he sent a man before them—
Joseph, sold as a slave.
They bruised his feet with shackles,
his neck was put in irons,
till what he foretold came to pass,
till the word of the Lord proved him true.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of peoples set him free.
He made him master of his household,
ruler over all he possessed,
to instruct his princes as he pleased
and teach his elders wisdom.
Trusting God includes believing that our setbacks and disappointments are part of His plan for us and are actually propelling us forward. Joseph was a slave and a prisoner for thirteen years, but those difficult experiences refined him and prepared him for an enormous responsibility. As Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained:
Joseph must have wondered if God had forgotten him. God had something unimaginable in mind for Joseph. He used this period of trial to strengthen Joseph’s character and put him in a position to save his family.
“God Will Do Something Unimaginable,” October 2020 general conference
During this period of difficulty, the author of Genesis repeatedly reminds us that the Lord was with Joseph (Genesis 39:2-3, 21, 23). It may have been difficult for Joseph to see God’s hand in his afflictions, but other people saw it. Potiphar and the prison warden both trusted Joseph because they saw how God was blessing him.
Nephi opens his record by telling us that he had experienced many afflictions in his life but had nevertheless “been highly favored of the Lord in all [his] days” (1 Nephi 1:1). Nephi’s father, Lehi, assured his brother Jacob, “[God] shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain” (2 Nephi 2:2). Decoupling our level of comfort from our perception of God’s approval can help us to see things more clearly and trust Him through our trials.
Today, I will remember that God sees all things and that His purposes for me include challenges and growth experiences. I will trust that He is with me even when I experience discouragement or discomfort.
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