Daily Devotion for January 26, 2025

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read Genesis 39:20-23.

Joseph could have been very bitter about what had happened to him. First, his brothers had sold him into slavery and allowed him to be carried away to a foreign land. Then, after making the best of the situation in which he found himself, he was again treated unfairly. Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him and got him thrown into prison.  He could have been not only angry with her and several other people, but also at God. But he apparently continued to trust God and give his new circumstances to the Lord. And the Lord blessed him while he was in prison.  (Later, his patience was again tested before he got out of prison.)  

I like to play various card games, my favorites being Spades and Rook. With any card games, there is an expression often used that simply acknowledges you were “dealt a bad hand.” It is an expression that we also use in everyday life, when circumstances come into our life that are unfair and present us with troubles and struggles.  

There is another expression that has developed over the years about how we deal with those situations. They can either make us “bitter or better.” If we dwell on the circumstances and the unfairness of them, they will likely make us bitter. But if we give them to God, our Lord can bring something good, even better, out of them. When you get dealt a bad hand, “play it” as best you can and let God make you better and stronger because of it.  

Personal Worship Option:

Horatio Spafford wrote the words to a song in 1873 that speaks to our focus today. Let this first verse be your prayer today.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll;

whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.