Genesis 50: Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people.

Joseph’s brothers must have gone through some emotional ups and downs. When they were young, they were stubborn and did whatever they wanted. They played judge and jury over their youngest brother and got rid of him. Or so they thought.

I suspect they were all shocked when, while desperately searching for food during the famine, they discovered that their “saviour” was none other than their younger brother – the one they had sold earlier.

Fortunately, Joseph lived close to God. He found his deepest fulfilment in being the lifeline for his brothers and his father.

When their father died, the brothers felt unsure. Would Joseph get back at them for what they had done to him years ago? But like I said, Joseph was different because he lived close to God.

God even uses the wrong choices we make in our lives and makes them work for good. The brothers certainly made wrong choices. You don’t sell your brother, no matter how annoying he his. You don’t throw him to the wolves. That’s just wrong.

God used their wrong choices as a path to get Joseph to the right place – in the land where food was gathered for seven lean years. God works with a long plan, even when we make short-term, stupid choices.

We’re only human after all. Our emotions go up and down, and we make poor decisions. But this is precisely when we shouldn’t go hide in a corner feeling sorry for ourselves. We shouldn’t think that our poor decisions disqualify us from further work in God’s world.

Fortunately, it doesn’t only depend on our actions. Our Father, who loves us so much, is good at turning our poor choices into opportunities – for us and for others.

God wants to use you, right where you are. You just have to show up.

Prayer
Father, thank You that You can even use my mistakes. Help me not to dwell on my past, but to be available for what You want to do through me now. Amen.

Questions
Is there something from my past that I believe disqualifies me forever?
Can I believe that God can use even my poor choices?
Am I willing to show up today for what God wants to do through me?

Do this now
Today, think about a mistake or wrong decision from your past that still bothers you. Bring it honestly before God. Give it back into His hands and ask Him to use it for something good. Choose not to remain stuck in guilt, but to be available today for what God wants to do through you.