Life is not fair! How often we have said this ourselves or heard someone say it?
Young Joseph’s life was going great, but not for too long.
Psalm 37:7 (NIV) – Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
His dad, Jacob, loved Joseph more than all his children. But that made his brothers hate him. To add to that, Joseph had dreams. Dreams that show him in a position of authority above his family. Joseph tells his brothers his dreams and they envied him (Genesis 37:3 -11). All that hate and envy lands Joseph in a dried-up well, gets him sold as a slave to Potiphar, and finally lands him in a prison. All of a sudden, Joseph goes from being the favored son to the hated brother and a slave in a foreign land.
Now, what did Joseph do to deserve all this? Nothing much really. It sure seemed like life was not fair to him. He ends up suffering and bearing the brunt of other people’s bad choices and behavior. Joseph had every reason to have questions, to be angry, at his brothers, even at God, maybe.
And yet, we know that Joseph trusted God above all else. He stayed faithful, be it in the palace or the prison. And the Lord lifted him. Joseph ends up becoming the second in command in all of Egypt and an instrument of blessing to many. Joseph reveals his undeterred faith in his God and His relentless love through his forgiveness and assurance to his brothers. Joseph recognized the marvelous hand of God, knowing that he was indeed under God’s divine rule, even through the most difficult situations (Genesis 50:19-20).
When my head is bowed
And tears unstopped flow
And all I can think and see
Is the injustice done to me
Open my eyes Lord, help me see
That You have a marvelous plan for me
And will not stop until You see
Your reflection in a sinner, such as me!
When at me fly accusations daily
Slander, gossip are constant company
When life seems too hard to bear
And I am stooped in despair
Open my eyes Lord, help me see
That You have a marvelous plan for me
And will not stop until You see
Your reflection in a sinner, such as me!
When doubt, fear are my regular stalkers
And confusion refuses to leave my side
When I am done, can take it no longer
And all I want to do is run and hide
Open my eyes Lord, help me see
That You have a marvelous plan for me
And will not stop until You see
Your reflection in a sinner, such as me!
Yes Lord help me remember
You are my God truly sovereign
And nothing in my life does enter
Outside of your loving perfect plan
So open my eyes Lord, help me see
That You have a marvelous plan for me
And will not stop until You see
Your reflection in a sinner, such as me!
Life is not always fair. We too have times when we face painful realities for no fault of ours, but rather caused by the wrong choices of those around us. And we have a choice to make. We can either complain ‘life is not fair’, feel sorry for ourselves, be angry and bitter with God and all around us, or we can choose to trust God’s sovereignty and stay faithful where we are, waiting on Him as He brings beauty out of the suffering and the ashes, mirroring in us, His beauty and purpose.
What is your choice today?
Help me Lord, like Joseph, to stay faithful where You have placed me, trusting in Your loving perfect will.