From Prison to Palace!

Do you sometimes feel like the world is against you? Perhaps everything you attempt to do seems to end in failure? You wonder at times why life seems to be going so right for everyone you know and yet so wrong for you? GOD can turn your chaos into victory. He can take what seems to always be wrong and make it very right.

Think about Joseph for a few moments. Life seemed to be on the up and up. His father loved him more than any of his brothers. He was good-looking. He had the constant favor of his father showered upon him.

But, lurking in the background were those who were being cast aside as he was living in prominence. His brothers, all older than him, felt the strong difference their father made between them and Joseph and their animosity towards him was growing. One day, they had had all of Joseph they could stand and decided it was time for him to go.

They determined to kill him. However, his oldest brother, Reuben, determined that was not the way it should go and so Joseph was sold into Egyptian slavery. A royal official purchased him and soon discovered Joseph’s worth. GOD was with Joseph and He made everything Joseph did succeed.

One day, the wife of his owner decided to entice him into having relations with her but he ran away not desiring to offend his master in any way. When he was told a fabricated story that Joseph had attempted to rape his wife, the master had him thrown into the pharaoh’s prison.

GOD continued blessing Joseph in the midst of his problems. He will do the same for you, if you simply remain focused upon Him in your life. Regardless of how bad things may appear for you, if GOD is on your side, you have all you need.

Eventually, Joseph rose to a high position within the prison due to his continued faithfulness to GOD as GOD continued working in and through him. Joseph did not allow his terrible situation to change his attitude towards GOD. He continued to trust Him in and through it all. No matter what others may be saying about you or actions they may take against you, remain faithful to GOD and He will guide you through!

The time came for GOD to lift him out of his situation. Through GOD’s divine intervention in his situation by giving him the ability to interpret the dreams of the pharaoh, Joseph went from being chief prisoner to second-in-command of the entire nation of Egypt! He went from prison-life to palace-life in a single day.

The Scripture tells us: “Then Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find anyone like this, a man who has the spirit of God in him?’ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as intelligent and wise as you. You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you’” (Genesis 41:38-40 HCSB).

Joseph’s continued faithfulness to GOD, to GOD’s plan and to GOD’s purpose for his life positioned him to be the savior of the nation of Israel as a famine soon swept through the known world. Joseph, under GOD’s direction, prepared Egypt for what was soon to come in order that the lives of the people could be saved.

GOD took a young boy whose heart was soft towards Him and eventually molded and shaped him into a man who He could use for great and mighty purposes. GOD will do the same with you!

You may be wondering why you have to go through the tough times you are going through? You may wonder if GOD even cares about you anymore? You may be ready to throw in the towel and call it all quits but I want to encourage you to hang in there. GOD has a plan and purpose for you. Remain faithful to GOD, to His Word, to His church because He is preparing you for something great for the sake of His kingdom.

One day you will wake to discover he has lifted you out of the prison you once lived in and raised you to a position of greatness within Him in service for His Kingdom. Hold strong and know that GOD never leaves you, even in the depths of despair; rather He is working His plan to bring about His purpose through you in order to impact the lives of many others.

Scripture Reading: “Lord, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness listen to my plea, and in Your righteousness answer me. Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous in Your sight. For the enemy has pursued me, crushing me to the ground, making me live in darkness like those long dead. My spirit is weak within me; my heart is overcome with dismay. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all You have done; I reflect on the work of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; I am like parched land before You. Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Don’t hide Your face from me, or I will be like those going down to the Pit. Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You. Reveal to me the way I should go, because I long for You. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I come to You for protection. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground. Because of Your name, Yahweh, let me live. In Your righteousness deliver me from trouble, and in Your faithful love destroy my enemies. Wipe out all those who attack me, for I am Your servant” (Psalm 143 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I praise You in the midst of my troubles. I give You glory for what You are doing in and through me preparing me to be the servant that is most useful to You and Your Kingdom. Please give me the strength to remain faithful. Help me to maintain my trust in You and Your will and purpose even when I don’t see what You are doing—knowing that You are working things out for the best for others as well as myself. I love You and thank You that You have counted me worthy to be used by You. I submit my will completely over to Yours!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!