Before we pray, let's first take a moment to listen to God's word and then we'll pray together. If you have ever looked at your life and thought, "This is not what I expected," then you are very close to the story of Joseph. His life reminds you that God's plan often passes through places you would never choose.
Yet it always leads to a purpose far greater than you can see in the moment. Joseph did not start his life in hardship. He began as a beloved son, favored by his father, dreaming great dreams about his future.
Yet in a moment of jealousy and cruelty, his own brothers sold him into slavery. He was taken to a strange land where he had no family and no inheritance. Everything familiar was stripped away.
But even in that painful place, Joseph chose to believe that God had not lost control. In Egypt, Joseph served his master faithfully. He worked with integrity because the fear of God was in his heart.
He did not let his circumstance define his character. He did not allow betrayal to poison his faith. And God was with him there.
But just when it seemed things were becoming stable, another blow came. He was falsely accused by Potterer's wife and thrown into prison. From the outside, it looked like Joseph's life kept moving from bad to worse.
Yet God was preparing him. Many times you may also feel pushed out of your comfort zone. You might find yourself in a season where there is no one to support you, no familiar face to comfort you, and no clear path in front of you.
In those moments, you may question, "Is God still working on this? Joseph's life gives you a clear answer. Yes, God is still at work even when everything looks like it is falling apart.
That difficulty, that delay, that disappointment might be a part of the process that shapes your character and positions you for what is coming next. You do not see the full picture yet. But God does.
In Isaiah 55 8-9 it is written, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. " You are reminded here that God's way of working is often very different from what you would choose.
Joseph's path to the palace went through a pit, through slavery, and through prison. None of those places looked like promotion, but every one of them was part of his preparation. His steps were ordered, even the painful ones.
In the end, he could say in Genesis 50 20, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. " In the same way, your steps are not random. Psalm 37 23 tells you, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delights in his way.
" This means that God is present, guiding, correcting, strengthening, and using even the things that hurt to accomplish something greater. 1 Peter 4 12-13 says, "Beloved, do not think it's strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. " So when you face trials, do not see them as proof that God has turned away from you.
Do not measure his love by how comfortable your life feels. Trials do not cancel God's love. They become the setting where his faithfulness is revealed.
What you must guard your heart against is the lie that says, "If God loved me, this would not be happening. " His love is not unstable. His love is not fragile.
His love is constant and eternal. Romans 8 28 reminds you, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. " This does not mean all things are good, but it does mean God can take all things, even the worst, and work them together for good.
Later in the same chapter, you are told that nothing can separate you from this love. Not trouble, not hardship, not persecution. God's love holds you in every season.
Joseph's story ends with restoration, promotion, and reconciliation. But it did not start there. Between the promise and the fulfillment, there were years of questions, tears, waiting, and obedience.
In the same way, you may be in the middle part of your story where things do not yet make sense. Do not give up there. Do not walk away from God there.
He has not finished with you. In 2 Corinthians 4 17 to18, you are encouraged with these words. For our light and momentary affliction is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. What you see now is temporary.
What God is building in you is eternal. So beloved, remember this. The God we serve is the one who turns pits into platforms and prisons into pathways to purpose.
He takes what the enemy meant for harm and transforms it into testimony. He turns threats into triumph and despair into joy. Your part is to trust him, to keep walking with him, to hold on to his promises even when you do not yet see the outcome.
Just as he was with Joseph in the pit, in the house, in the prison, and in the palace, he is with you in every chapter of your life. And in his time, you will look back and see that he was working all along. Now, let's take a moment to pray together.
Lord Jesus, your words in Luke 9:62 says, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. " Lord, I do not want to be someone who starts well and finishes poorly. I do not want to begin in faith and then turn around in fear.
Please help me keep my eyes on you even when my feelings change. Even when my circumstances do not make sense, even when the road becomes lonely or slow. Father, I confess that sometimes I am tempted to look back.
Sometimes I miss what was familiar, even if it was unhealthy. Sometimes I remember old habits, old patterns, and my mind starts to wonder if following you is worth the cost. Forgive me for every moment I have doubted your goodness.
Forgive me for every time I questioned your love because life felt difficult. Teach me to trust your heart when I cannot understand your ways. Give me grace to keep moving forward day by day without comparing my journey to someone else's.
Lord Jesus, today I surrender myself to you again. You can have my life. You can have my hands and what I do.
You can have my mind and what I think about. You can have my words and what I speak. You can have my future and what I am building.
I belong to you. Please cut off every tie that pulls me toward this world in a way that weakens my devotion. Break every connection to my past that still tries to define me.
Heal what needs healing and remove what needs removing. Where there is confusion, bring clarity. Where there is divided loyalty, bring holiness.
Where there is secret compromise, bring light and freedom. Holy Spirit, help me surrender without holding anything back. I do not want to love your gifts more than I love you.
I do not want to chase blessings and forget the blesser. I do not want to cling to the healing and forget the healer. I choose you, Lord Jesus, over every outcome I desire.
Even if my prayers take time to unfold, I still want you. Even if the answer looks different than I expected, I still want you. Teach my heart to value you above everything else.
Make it clear to me that knowing you is better than being applauded, being comfortable, or getting my way. Your kingdom is worth more than my preferences. Your presence is worth more than my plans.
Let me live with eternity in view. Your words in Matthew 6:es 19 to 21 remind me not to store up treasures on earth but to store up treasures in heaven because where my treasure is, my heart will be there also. Lord, train my heart to desire what is lasting.
Give me contentment. Help me live with gratitude for what I have and help me stay free from envy when I see others prosper. I hold tightly to your instruction in Psalm 37:es 1-6.
Do not fret because of evildoers. Trust in the Lord and do good. Delight yourself also in the Lord.
Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass. Father, I receive this as direction for my everyday life.
When I feel anxious about what others have, calm my heart. When I feel pressured to compete, bring me back to peace. When I feel tempted to rush ahead, teach me patience.
I commit my way to you. Thank you, Lord, because you never ask me to lay something down to leave me empty. When you ask me to release something, it is because you want my hands free to receive something better.
When you close a door, it is because you are protecting me or redirecting me. When you tell me to walk away, it is because you are leading me toward life. Help me believe this even when the transition feels painful.
Help me obey without demanding explanations. Lord, grow in me a faith that moves. I want a faith that follows.
Your words in James 1:22 call me to be a doer of the word and not only a hearer. Give me courage to act on what you have said. Give me strength to obey when obedience feels costly.
Your call in Matthew 16:4 reminds me that following you means denying myself, taking up my cross and walking with you. Lord, help me embrace the narrow way with joy because it leads to life. Holy Spirit, guard my heart from turning blessings into idols.
If you bless me, keep me humble. If you increase me, keep me surrendered. If you promote me, keep me pure.
If you give me more, help me love you more. Let my identity remain rooted in you and not in what I own, what I achieve, or what people say about me. Teach me to resist the devil's lies and stand firm in truth.
Your instruction in James 4:7 is clear. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Lord, I submit myself to you today. I resist every distraction, every temptation, and every deception that tries to pull me away from wholehearted devotion. Jesus, set my focus on what is ahead.
Your words in Philippians 3 13-14 help me press on forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead. Help me not to replay old failures. Help me not to live in regret.
Help me not to return to what you saved me from. And when I feel tired, remind me to look to you. Hebrews 12:es 1:2 calls me to lay aside every weight and sin and to run with endurance, fixing my eyes on Jesus.
Lord, keep my eyes fixed on you. I ask for the help of the Holy Spirit right now. Keep my love for you pure.
Keep my heart loyal to the King. Keep my soul faithful to the giver, not to gifts. Let my life bring you honor in private and in public.
Let my choices reflect that you are my greatest treasure. Lord Jesus, I bless your holy name. Thank you for receiving me again.
In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. If this prayer has touched your heart, please type amen as a sign of faith.
I pray that every blessing in this prayer is now upon you in the name of Jesus. And if you need a special prayer, feel free to let us know in the comments. We would be honored to pray for you.
May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
