So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do.”

Genesis 41:55

Sweet friends, if there was ever someone whose life circumstances looked like God had abandoned him, it was Joseph.

From being born into a family of competition and insecurity to being sold into slavery by his half-brothers to being falsely accused of sexual assault and thrown into prison to being forgotten in prison by someone who promised to help him, Joseph’s life had a couple of decades in which there were far more downs than ups.

But God – praise His holy name! – God was always with Joseph and was always growing Joseph.

When the time was exactly right, God raised Joseph out of the pit and set him in the palace.

Through God’s faithfulness to him and his faithfulness to God, Joseph was able to preserve not just the Egyptians, but people in countries all around, including his own family when famine drove them to buy grain from Egypt.

Beloved, when the time is exactly right, God will raise you out of the pit and set you in the palace too.

Brothers and Sisters, whatever hardship comes, know that it is never the end. God is always working to make all things new, including you.

In our trials, we can take joy knowing God is growing us; we can have hope that all things are working for good.

Trust the process.

The God who was faithful to Joseph is the same God who is faithful to us.

In the pit and in the palace, may we be found faithful.

In times of abundance and times of famine, may we be surrendered as salt and light so that God may use our lives to preserve others.