Suffering for Others

Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.

Genesis 39:20 (NKJV)

Most of the time, when we go through difficult trials—sometimes involving other people—and find ourselves before God, we think only of ourselves and completely forget about others. We pray and fast, asking God to deliver us. We ask ourselves, "What did I do to deserve such punishment from God?" Sometimes, the burden weighs so heavily upon us that we lose all hope of escape, as the situation seems to offer no peaceful resolution. Yet, we often overlook a crucial point: the situation we are in does not concern us alone.

As we read the Bible, we discover a recurring truth. However, by remaining focused on ourselves, we fail to grasp the lesson it teaches. Joseph’s brothers, who sold him into slavery, did not realize they were fulfilling God’s will. Even Joseph, in the midst of adversity, did not understand that he was exactly where God wanted him to be. The memory of his brothers' actions was still fresh when he was imprisoned for a wrong he had not committed, and he surely harbored hatred toward them. He likely thought that, had it not been for his brothers' betrayal, he would not have found himself in such a situation.

How often have you found yourself in a situation thinking that, if a certain person hadn't said or done this or that, you wouldn't be where you are today? Our spiritual limitations prevent us from seeing the broader scope of our trials. All we want is for God to get us out of them, whereas He has a plan far greater than what you perceive as the weight of the world on your shoulders. All the great men of the Bible faced this reality: they had to go through a terrible ordeal that would ultimately benefit everyone. The next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, instead of worrying, ask God to reveal what He wants to teach you and who will benefit from your trial.

May the grace and peace of God be with you.