. Genesis 45:4-5 KJV
[4] And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
[5] Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
When I googled the definition of pain, it was described as an “unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, which made me wonder why anyone would intentionally subject such a condition to another person. My question was answered when I read about Joseph’s experience.
Joseph, a man who was faithful and obedient to God, was deeply wronged by his brothers. Betrayed, sold into slavery, and falsely accused, he could have easily let bitterness and anger take root. But instead, he stayed obedient to God. God allowed him to endure pain, knowing that it would refine his heart, shape his character, and prepare him to save his family and those around him.
Like Joseph, you might ask, “Why me, Lord?” Why were you chosen to carry the weight of rejection, betrayal, or hurt? It’s easy to feel that someone else - someone less obedient, less kind, less faithful — might be more deserving of such pain. But God sees you differently. He knows that you are the one who can endure it. He is preparing you for a purpose that requires you to go through a season of refinement. Just as Joseph was chosen because his heart could handle the process, you are chosen because you are more qualified than you realize.
The story of Joseph is one of the most profound examples of how God uses pain for a greater purpose, and it reminds us that even when we don’t understand the “why,” there is always a reason behind the suffering we experience.
Today, if you find yourself in the midst of pain, remember this: it’s not the end. Your suffering has a purpose. God is using it to prune, refine, and prepare you for what He has destined you for. It’s easy to question and wonder why, but like Joseph, if you trust that God is in control and that He has a plan for your life, you will see that the pain will bring forth fruit.
Don’t fight the process. Trust that God is shaping you, even in the hardest of seasons. The testing of your faith produces perseverance, which will lead you to the fullness of the life God has for you. In the end, you will see that everything you’ve gone through was not in vain but was used by God to fulfill His perfect plan.
Prayer,
Father, thank you for knowing what we need, even when we don’t understand the pain we are facing. Today, I pray for your children that whatever painful situation they may be experiencing, now or in the future, you give them peace in what may seem like a stormy and unwarranted path. I ask that you give them the strength to endure. Faith to believe that your plan is always greater than their circumstances and to stay the course in weariness, knowing they will win in the end. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Be Blessed
Harriet Lane
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