23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
Genesis 37:23-24 ESV
As a child of God, there are inherent blessings that accompany the status. The Bible is clear about the privileges and promises that each one of us carries. And yet, it doesn’t stop us from experiencing difficult situations in life. The seasons where we feel alone and abandoned.
Stuck in a pit.
Buried.
In studying the story of Joseph, I’ve learned that it is possible to be blessed and buried. But it’s what you do during the burying that determines whether you die or flourish.
Joseph had a choice to go deeper into despair at each setback. Think about it. He was sold into slavery by his brothers, He was enslaved in an Egyptian household. He was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. He was thrown into jail. He was forgotten after using his gift to interpret dreams. At each one of these points in time, he could have given up, but he persisted.
How often can we say the same?
I don’t know about you, but I have a tendency to sit in the circumstances and allow my hope to waiver. Yes, I know the promises and privileges that I have in Christ. Yet, my thoughts don’t always translate into practice. It’s in those moments when I’m stuck that I begin to feel suffocated by these big situations staring me in the face that I have to remember to persist.
I refuse to die in the hole when I’ve been promised so much more.
Each time we face a setback, we have a choice. We can choose to focus on the darkness or keep stretching toward the warmth of the Son. Steward the seed wisely and thrive.
Today, I just want to encourage you to persist. You are a blessed and beloved child of God. Although you may feel buried by your circumstances, there is a promise on your life. Keep going and steward the hidden season well…
