Devotion:
Early in his life, Joseph had it good. He was the favorite son of his father and relished that position. And he discerned a gift from God for interpreting dreams. In all of this, he became over-confident and hard to be around.
Because of his brother’s jealousy, he ended up a slave in Egypt. But things had gone well for him there, until he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and was put in prison. Even there, things had gone as well as they could. He was able to assist two of the prisoners, former assistants to the Pharaoh, by interpreting their dreams. He asked the cupbearer to remember him when he got out. I am intrigued by the last verse of chapter 40 and the first phrase of the next chapter: “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. When two full years had passed…”
That had to be a long two years. Plenty of time to become bitter. Plenty of time to be angry with God. We might call it a possible “wintertime” of the soul. Yet apparently, Joseph continued to trust in God and maintain his relationship with God.
We all have those “wintertimes” of our soul. There are many shapes and sizes for them and their duration can vary widely. The good news is that they do not last, unless we insist that they do. God is always waiting and willing to carry us through and beyond them to a spring of something new.
Personal Worship Option:
Natalie Sleeth wrote these words to “Hymn of Promise” back in 1986:
In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
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