Thrown into Situations

This morning, during my reflection, I thought about my devotion of reading the story of Joseph. Joseph was thrown into situations he never asked for. He was betrayed by people he trusted. He was falsely accused. He was forgotten. Yet in every part of his journey, God was with him, even when the beginning looked nothing like the ending. His story did not start in the palace. It started in the pit.

As I read about Joseph, I saw myself in his journey. I too have been thrown into situations I never asked for. I have been betrayed by people I trusted. I have been falsely accused. I have walked through seasons where it felt like I was pushed down, misunderstood, and questioned. But Joseph’s story reminds me that every season that feels unfair and every moment that feels disappointing might be part of something bigger than I can see.

It teaches me to stay the course. To keep doing what is right in front of me. To be where my feet are. To understand that things are working behind the scenes even when I cannot see them. Joseph shows me that a setback is not a dead end. It is a setup. God uses the pit. God uses the prison. God uses the waiting. All of it becomes preparation for what is coming next.

Today I had a good conversation with my dad. He came to visit for Thanksgiving. He talked to me about discipline, about having the awareness to be kind even when you are around people who are not kind. He talked about people who take more than they give, people who do not have discipline, and how important it is to humble yourself. Not to be a doormat, but to set an example by being kind, by being respectful, and by being honest with yourself.

He reminded me that taking care of my responsibilities matters. It keeps me grounded. It keeps me aligned with who I want to be. And when people come at me with bitterness or anger, responding with forgiveness brings peace to my own heart. My dad has taught me so much about mastery of self. He taught me that I am going to get knocked down, but I must get back up.

Adversity is a teacher. When I face something I do not understand, I can learn through it. I can study. I can ask for help. I can grow through it. There is purpose behind all of it. And I want to pass these lessons on to Bella. I want to model for her what respect looks like. What reverence for others means. How to treat people with love and care even if they do not return it.

I want her to see what it looks like to be sincere. To live with honesty and awareness. To hold yourself to a high standard. To focus on being gentle, being kind, being supportive, thinking of others more and myself less. Joseph’s story and my dad’s wisdom came together for me today. Both reminded me that God is forming something in me. God is preparing me for something ahead. And if I stay faithful, stay humble, and stay rooted in love, the story will unfold exactly the way it is meant to.