by Evangelist Daniel Sushanth

Genesis 37:3-11, Despite the pain Joseph experienced, he was able to let go of his anger and bitterness and extend mercy to his brothers. In fact, he not only forgave them but also helped them during a time of great famine.

Joseph’s example reminds us that forgiveness is a powerful tool for healing and that it’s possible to rise above our circumstances and choose a path of compassion and generosity. God’s faithfulness and His ability to use even the most difficult situations for good.

Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel, and he was favored by his father. This made Joseph’s brothers envious and bitterness of him. The brothers plotted to kill him, but they ended up selling him as a slave to a group of Ishmaelite traders who took him to Egypt.

His life in Egypt was difficult, but he remained faithful to God and worked diligently despite his unfavorable circumstances.

In Egypt, he was sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, and became his household caretaker. However, he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison (Genesis 39:1-20).

While in prison, he interpreted the dreams of two fellow prisoners, the chief cupbearer, and the chief baker. The cupbearer was later restored to his position, but he forgot about Joseph until Pharaoh had two troubling dreams, he called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men but no one could interpret (Genesis 40:1-23).

Eventually, he caught the attention of Pharaoh, who had a dream that no one could interpret. Joseph interpreted the dream and revealed that it was a warning of an upcoming famine. Joseph advised Pharaoh to store grain to prepare for the famine.

Pharaoh was impressed with Joseph’s wisdom and judgment and appointed him as second-in-command of Egypt. Joseph’s leadership and preparations ensured that there was enough food to sustain the people of Egypt and neighboring countries during the famine. As a result, Joseph’s brothers and even his father came to Egypt to buy grain from him, and Joseph was able to provide for his family.

Joseph’s story teaches us about the power of God’s faithfulness and His ability to use even the most challenging circumstances for good. Despite the difficult situations that Joseph faced, he remained faithful to God and used his gifts and abilities to serve others. His example encourages us to trust in God and to use our own gifts and abilities to serve others in difficult times.

Through forgiveness, Joseph was able to reconcile with his brothers, who had sold him into slavery years before. His story is a powerful example of the transformative power of faithfulness, forgiveness, and triumph over adversity.

If you are experiencing feelings of betrayal, hopelessness, rejection, or heartbroken take inspiration from the life of Joseph. Don’t give up on prayer, even when it seems like God has closed the doors and is no longer listening. Often, Satan creates situations that make us doubt God’s presence in our lives, leading us to rely solely on our own wisdom to overcome the trial.

However, we should avoid this mistake and continue to pray, maintaining our faith in God even during difficult times.

During one of the church’s annual sports events, my wife Sunalini suffered a severe sports injury while participating in the Tug of War game. Unfortunately, her ankle was fractured, and it was immediately clear that the injury was severe as her foot bulged, and she could feel that her ankle was broken.

Fortunately, the broken fragments remained intact and did not protrude from the ankle. The doctor showed us the X-ray, which revealed a dangling bone and fragments scattered around it. A four-hour surgery was needed, during which the doctor placed 12 implants to support the plates and screws. The doctor warned us that she might need support to walk for the rest of her life. Nevertheless, with faith and prayer, the surgery was successful, though the post-surgery pain was excruciating. I saw my wife writhing in agony, asking the medical staff for painkillers. It was an emotional moment for me. Whenever I recall that scene, I can’t help but thank God for his healing mercy.

She had to use a wheelchair for months, and it took her two years of consistent physiotherapy to regain her ability to walk. We spent a lot of time, emotionally, physically, and financially, revolving around hospitals. “However, through it all, my wife maintained her faith in God, and He gave us the strength to overcome difficult times”.

Despite the lack of support from some of our close acquaintances, God supplied us with the assistance we required through His faithful followers. We are appreciative of God’s design and intention for our lives, and we express our gratitude to Him for remaining by our side during the most challenging times of our lives.

During World War II, Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian, bravely helped hide Jews from the Nazis. Unfortunately, she and her sister Betsie were eventually discovered and sent to the horrific Ravensbrück concentration camp, where they endured extreme cruelty and suffering. Despite these unbearable conditions, they remained steadfast in their faith, conducting Bible studies and offering prayers with other women.

In a remarkable display of resilience, they even expressed gratitude for the fleas infesting their quarters, as they helped to keep the guards at bay. Eventually, the sisters were released due to a clerical error, but Betsie passed away shortly after. Corrie shared her powerful story of faith and forgiveness with the world, writing books and traveling to speak about her experiences. She famously declared, “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”

Father, I come before you today with a heavy heart, I feel betrayed, hopeless, and rejected heartbroken, I feel like giving up. But I know that you are with me and that you have promised to never leave me nor forsake me. I pray that you would renew my spirit and give me the strength to persevere. I know that your plans for me are good. I trust in you, and I know that you will see me through this difficult time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

##Living by Faith##

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