Let’s be honest: nobody enjoys waiting.
In our instant-gratification world, waiting feels inefficient, frustrating, and sometimes downright painful. Yet, so much of the Christian life is spent in the “not yet.” Maybe you are currently waiting on physical healing from a chronic illness, the right job offer, or just a clear sense of what God has next for you. If you are in a season of waiting, you know how easy it is to feel forgotten. You know the temptation to wonder if God has missed your address or if His plan has somehow derailed.
I recently finished a powerful Bible devotional plan that spoke directly to this universal struggle: “Trusting God’s Plan in the Waiting: Lessons From the Life of Joseph.” It was a timely reminder that waiting isn’t just empty time; it’s a crucial preparation ground. Here are a few key takeaways from studying the life of Joseph that encouraged my heart.
The Detour is Often the Path
We often know the highlight reel of Joseph’s life: the coat of many colors and his eventual rise to power in Egypt. But we sometimes gloss over the agonizing middle chapters.
Joseph’s “waiting season” wasn’t just a delay; it was a trauma. He was betrayed by his own flesh and blood, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused of a terrible crime, and then left to rot in a foreign prison for years.
Whatever you are waiting for today, Joseph’s story validates your pain. Waiting can feel like a prison. It can feel unfair. But what struck me most during this study is that Joseph’s time in the pit and the prison weren’t detours from God’s plan; they were the path to it. God was using every moment of suffering to forge his character and position him for his ultimate purpose.
Stewarding the “Meanwhile”
What do we do while we wait? Do we sit back passively? Do we shake our fists at the sky?
One of the most challenging lessons from Joseph’s life is how he handled the “meanwhile.” Whether he was a slave in Potiphar’s house or a prisoner in the dungeon, the Bible says, “The Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”
Joseph didn’t wait until his circumstances were perfect to start serving God. He stewarded his current situation with integrity and excellence. He served the other prisoners. He interpreted dreams even when he himself was living in a nightmare. This devotional challenged me to stop waiting for my circumstances to change before I start living faithfully.
The View from the Palace
The most beautiful part of Joseph’s story is the end, where he is reunited with the brothers who betrayed him. He is second-in-command over all of Egypt, positioned perfectly to save the known world—and the lineage of Israel—from starvation during a severe famine.
Years later, looking back on the pain, Joseph was able to say to his brothers 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.”
While we are in the middle of our own waiting seasons, we cannot see the end from the beginning. We don’t know why the healing hasn’t come or why the door hasn’t opened. But Joseph’s life serves as tangible proof that God is a master weaver. He takes the darkest threads of our lives—the delays, the disappointments, and the betrayals—and weaves them into a tapestry of redemption.
Encouragement for Your Wait
If you feel stuck in a holding pattern today, I highly recommend diving into the story of Joseph. It is a potent reminder that even when nothing seems to be happening, God is working. He hasn’t forgotten you. Your waiting is not wasted.
A special thank you to HealingStrong for providing this impactful devotional plan on bible.com. Their resources are a blessing to many. For more information on their ministry and resources, please visit: http://healingstrong.org/