Genesis 39:2-3 As it turned out, God was with Joseph and things went very well with him. He ended up living in the home of his Egyptian master. His master recognized that God was with him, saw that God was working for good in everything he did.

In a space of a few weeks, Joseph’s life was seesawing. He was quietly tending sheep when his father asked him to go to his brothers. When he reached his brothers, they assaulted him and threw him into a well.

Fortunately, he did not die, but was sold to a trader who happened to be passing by. It must have been really terrible to be sold like an animal to someone you didn’t know at all.

And as if that wasn’t enough, he was taken from his own country to a foreign land with strange customs. And then he was sold again and ended up in the house of Potiphar, the chief security officer of the pharaoh.

Joseph’s life wasn’t easy. He was in a foreign country with no family, no friends and no happiness. And yet Joseph did not sit in a corner feeling sorry for himself. No, he actually lived in such a way that the people around him could see that he was different.

I believe we each have a choice in how we live our lives. We can decide for ourselves whether to face the challenges in our path head-on or not. We can choose to let this challenge define us or let it strengthen us. We can use it to move forward better than before.

Joseph decided to do this, and very quickly climbed the ranks to just below the ruler of the country. But on his own he would not have been able to do it. The Lord was with him, and he lived his life in such a way that everyone noticed it.

You can also decide how to live your life. You can decide to sit in a corner feeling sorry for yourself, or you can decide to hit every curve ball coming at you for a six. I think the latter is the right option. Fortunately, you don’t have to face hardship alone. God is with you. Watch this space. Trust God and see what He does …

Prayer
Lord, my God, thank you for always being with me. Show me how to hit the challenge I’m facing for a six …

Questions
How do I respond when life hits me unexpectedly?
Do people see from my attitude that God is with me?
Do I trust God only in times of success or also in seasons of slavery?

Do this now
Choose to do one task at work or at home today with a good attitude, even if you don’t feel like doing that task.
Pray before you begin and ask that God will show you through your work that He is with you.
Do something good for someone around you, so that they can experience something of God through you.