Setbacks

setbacks - How do I keep going when life constantly seems to knock me down?

Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him . . . for twenty pieces of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt.

Genesis 37:28

Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held.

Genesis 39:19-20

Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer . . . forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.

Genesis 40:23

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.

Genesis 50:20

JOSEPH EXPERIENCED a series of heartbreaking setbacks—being sold into slavery by his brothers, being framed as a rapist by Potiphar’s wife, and being forgotten by the cupbearer whose dream Joseph had interpreted. While God did not send these bad experiences, he allowed them, and Joseph understood that God would use them to prepare him for an important assignment later on. When you experience a setback, think about Joseph and thank God that he promises to use everything for his good. Looking at your setbacks from that perspective keeps you alert to what you can learn from them. This will help you endure them in the moment and have hope that God will redeem them to help you become all he created you to be.

Prayer Prompts

Lord, when I think about setbacks in my life, I remember the time that . . .

Your Word encourages me to have this perspective on my problems: . . .