Thriving In The Pit

From: The Upper Room Devotionals

Genesis 39:21 "The Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love."

Three years ago I found myself in a deep "pit" when I was falsely accused and threatened with a lawsuit. One certainty in life is that we will find ourselves in the pit at some time. For one young mother the pit is a terminal illness. For some middle-aged man, it is the loss of a job or financial disaster. And for a fragile teenage girl, it is a broken relationship.

No one knew more about surviving in the pit than Joseph. His own brothers cast him into a well and then sold him into slavery. Later he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. Yet Joseph not only survived but also actually thrived in his miserable circumstances.

The statement "The Lord was with him" appears several times in today's Bible reading. The scripture seems to imply that Joseph was able to face misfortune because he knew he was not alone. Joseph understood that the Lord was with him and would deliver him. (See Acts 7:9-10.)

How comforting it is for Christians to know that in whatever "pit" we may find ourselves -- the death of a loved one, health issues, broken relationships, or financial problems -- God is with us and able to lift us out.