When trials come, when questions arise, we might want to cry out: “Hey, God, are You there or not?”

Faith can be easy when life is working out for us, but how about when we can’t reason life out? When we have no explanation that sums up the process? It is in the pits of life we have to choose to put our faith in God and find peace. Joseph was a guy who modeled this in scripture. We can learn some things today from his life that will help us deal with our own pits and prisons.

Joseph gives us six keys to growing stronger in unexplainable trials:

1) He believed God was with Him.

“The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.” – Genesis 39:2

How does knowing God is with you help you keep going?

2) He saw sin was against God and never secret.

“But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.” – Gen. 39:8

How does knowing sin is against God affect our choices when faced with trial or temptation? 

3) Joseph knew God had not forgotten him, even if others had.

“But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon…The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.” – Gen. 40:14-15; 23

Have you ever felt forgotten? What did you choose: Pity party or growth?

4) Joseph always gave God the glory when God displayed power.

“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.” – Gen. 40:8

“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” – Gen. 41:16

“But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” – Gen. 50:19-20

Coming out on the bright side of a trial and receiving attention, have you ever wanted to take credit?

5) Joseph gave his rights to God and left revenge to God.

“The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

“So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” – Gen. 41:37-43

“Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.” – Gen. 42:6

“They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed down, prostrating themselves before him.” – Gen. 43:28

 “Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan…” – Gen. 45:17

Think about all the opportunities he had for revenge that he could have justified: Potiphar, Potiphar’s wife, the cupbearer, his brothers. Can you walk away and leave revenge to God?

6) Joseph saw that he was part of a bigger picture.

“But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” – Gen. 15:19-20

Do you believe you are part of a bigger picture? Are you in the land of suffering? Are you choosing all along the way to let God make you better and not bitter?

How does considering that trials can be for the purpose of saving many lives affect how we view them?

Are your unexplainable trials positively affecting those around you as you become better? Joseph’s did.