When God Turns It Around: Hope for Hard TimesNäide

JOSEPH—FROM PIT TO PALACE

Joseph’s life didn’t go the way he expected. His own brothers threw him into a pit and sold him as a slave. Later, he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. For years, it seemed like everything was falling apart. Nothing made sense. It looked like evil had won.

But God had a bigger plan.

Even when Joseph couldn’t see it, God was working. Every painful moment—the betrayal, the injustice, the waiting—was shaping Joseph’s character and putting him in the right place at the right time. In the end, Joseph became second-in-command in Egypt and was able to save many lives during a famine. What others meant for harm, God used for good.

Joseph’s story points to something even greater—the story of Jesus. Jesus was betrayed, beaten, and crucified. Evil seemed to win when He died on the cross. But through the cross, God was saving the world. Jesus’ suffering was not the end. His resurrection proved that even the worst evil can’t stop God’s good plans.

You may be going through something painful right now. Maybe you feel betrayed. Maybe you’re stuck in a situation you didn’t choose. It’s hard to see what God is doing when life feels dark. But the gospel reminds us: God is never absent. He is always working, even when we don’t understand. And in Christ, every painful season can be part of a bigger story of redemption.

You are not forgotten. God knows the pit you’re in. He knows the pain you carry. And in Christ, He promises that your story isn’t over. Trust Him to turn it around in His time and His way.

PRAYER

Father, help me trust You when I don’t see the full picture. Thank You that in Jesus, no pain is wasted. Remind me that You are working even when life feels broken.

REFLECTION

Where in your life do you need to trust that God is still working for good?