Is God REALLY in Control?: Trusting God Through Life’s Detours & DelaysSample

When I read through the book of Genesis recently, the story of Joseph struck me in a completely different way. Through the lens of God's sovereignty and providence, I saw how each seemingly tragic turn in Joseph's life was actually a divine stepping stone toward his destiny.

Consider for a moment - Joseph was just 17 years old when he shared his dreams with his brothers. He had no idea that those dreams would take nearly two decades to fulfill or that the path to their fulfillment would include being sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned, and seemingly forgotten. But God was orchestrating every single detail.

What's remarkable is how God used every circumstance to prepare Joseph for his future role. His time managing Potiphar's house developed his leadership abilities. His years in prison, where he interpreted dreams, prepared him for the pivotal moment with Pharaoh. Even the cupbearer's two-year delay in remembering Joseph aligned perfectly with God's timing.

You see, God wasn't just working in Joseph's life - He was working through Joseph's life to preserve the future of His people. As Joseph himself realized when he finally revealed his identity to his brothers, "God sent me before you to preserve life... to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (Genesis 45:5-8).

This reminds me of what Tony Evans says about God's providence: "Providence is the mysterious way God brings about results through the way he connects people, places, and things in order to accomplish something." When we're in the middle of our struggle, we often can't see how God is connecting all the pieces. But just like Joseph, our current position might be preparation for something far greater than we can imagine, so we have to trust that He is in control!

Pause and Ponder: Like Joseph, what dream has God given you that seems impossible in your current circumstances?