Has adversity ever caused you to feel as if you’re climbing uphill? Adversity is certainly not welcomed in anyone’s life, but it finds its way into all of our lives. No matter how hard we try to avoid it, there are seasons when we simply have to climb uphill.

Joseph knew all about uphill climbs. The Bible tells his story in Genesis 38–50, and it is a story filled with betrayal, injustice, disappointment, and hardship.

Joseph was loved by his father, but his brothers grew to hate him. Joseph was his father’s favored son, and his brothers resented him for it. When they had the opportunity, they sold Joseph into slavery. Joseph was taken to Egypt and placed in Potiphar’s household. Joseph may have thought that was the end of his story, but it wasn’t.

Even there, God was with him. Joseph worked hard, and the Lord blessed what he did. Eventually, Joseph was put in charge of Potiphar’s entire household.

Then adversity struck again. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph. Joseph refused her advances, and when she tried to force herself on him, he ran away. Angry and humiliated, she falsely accused Joseph of attacking her. Joseph was innocent, but he was sent to prison anyway.

Can you relate to Joseph? Have you ever had something go wrong even when you were doing the right thing?

But prison wasn’t the end of Joseph’s story. While there, Joseph interpreted dreams for two of Pharaoh’s officials. Eventually, one of those men remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about him. Joseph was brought before Pharaoh to interpret a troubling dream.

Joseph explained that Egypt was about to experience seven years of abundance followed by seven years of devastating famine. He advised Pharaoh to prepare during the years of plenty.

Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph that he put him in charge of the entire operation. The young man who had been sold into slavery became one of the most powerful men in Egypt, and eventually, the very brothers who had sold him into slavery came before him looking for food.

Joseph had every reason to seek revenge. Instead, he offered forgiveness. After their father died, Joseph’s brothers were afraid he would finally punish them for what they had done. He didn’t. Joseph understood something they didn’t.

He understood that God had been at work all along. Joseph told them in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

What an incredible perspective.

Joseph didn’t say what his brothers did was good. It wasn’t.

Being sold into slavery wasn’t good.
Being falsely accused wasn’t good.
Being thrown into prison wasn’t good.

But God was able to take all of those bad things and use them for good.

It has been said that the iron chains around Joseph’s hands and feet eventually led to the gold chain around his neck in Pharaoh’s palace.

The prison wasn’t a detour from God’s plan. It was part of the journey.

Joseph got to Egypt because his brothers sold him into slavery. He got into Pharaoh’s presence because of his time in prison. And he was positioned to save countless lives because God had been preparing him through every difficult chapter.

We will face adversity in our lives. That’s inevitable.

There will be moments when we wonder why God allowed something to happen. We may not understand what He is doing, and we certainly may not see how our circumstances could possibly work for good.

But Joseph’s story reminds us that God can be working even when we can’t see what He’s doing.

Your difficult season may not make sense today.

Keep trusting Him.

• The setback may become the setup.
• The prison may become the pathway.
• The adversity may become part of the story God is writing.

You don’t have to understand every step to trust the one who is leading you.

How has God brought you through adversity in the past?

Thanks for reading. If this encouraged you today, please share it with someone who may need the reminder that God is still at work—even in the difficult seasons.