Hopeless Situations
Genesis 39:20-23
Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined.
But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
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Joseph was in a hopeless situation. And if he had been a normal man, now was about the time for deep depression to set in. After all, look at what had happened to him. He'd been sold into slavery, taken away from his home and family and made to walk all the way to Egypt. There he was confronted with culture shock and having to learn a new language, new customs, new everything. Then, just as it seemed that everything was going right, everything went wrong and he ended up in a filthy and horrifying prison, with no hope of ever getting out alive. What did Joseph do? Did he sink into the "poor me" syndrome? Did he cry and stamp his feet and shake his fist at God? Did he ask God why, why, why? No! Joseph took each simple task that was given to him and did it to the best of his ability. He showed himself to be a faithful and hard worker to the prison warden. He demonstrated by his diligence that once he was given a task, the warden didn't need to worry about it any more, because the task would be done and be done right. And he was rewarded for his efforts by being made the prison administrator.
Are you in what seems to be a hopeless situation? Are you overwhelmed by your circumstances, feeling there is no way you will ever accomplish that giant pile of tasks? Follow Joseph's example. First, know that God is with you every step of the way. Second, forget about the hugeness of your situation. Ignore the overwhelming nature of the problem. Throw out that giant, incomprehensible forest, and look at the trees one at a time. Take each task and do it to the best of your ability. When one is completed, move on to the next one. Several things will happen. First of all, that huge forest will soon be whittled down to a very manageable grove. Second, you will prove to those around you that you are willing to handle the small things with as much diligence and commitment to excellence as you are the large things. And third, your righteousness in Jesus will begin to shine before others like the noonday, because of your humble willingness to do what needs to be done to the best of your ability, no matter what it is.
Remember, even the lowliest of things - even scrubbing a toilet - can and should be done to the glory of God. Oh, and by the way, with a smile on your face!
Used with Permission
