I was reading the story of Joseph yesterday. Joseph’s brothers did him wrong. I mean really, really wrong. There was hatred, malice, and murder within their hearts. There is no “gracefying” their actions. Their actions were evil concerning their brother.

Yet, still Joseph forgave. Yet, still Joseph prospered while enslaved. Yet, still Joseph prospered in prison.

Joseph was able to look at his brothers at the end of his life and say, “Your bad actions, although meant for evil, actually propelled me into my destiny.

This story speaks volumes to me:

1. Joy is a choice. I know life is hard. Bad things happen. But the Bible tells us we grieve in hope. For us, mourning last for the night but joy comes in morning.

2. Prosperity is a choice. Joseph prospered as a slave. He prospered as a prisoner. Joseph could prosper in the most dire places because His soul prospered.

3. Forgiveness is a choice. We can allow the bad actions of others to imprison us in a jail of bitterness, victimhood, hopelessness. Or we can choose freedom and forgive, even if the person is unrepentant.

4. God hardly ever leads us in a straight line. To get to our destiny, we often walk through difficult places, hard places, places where it seems we are far away from the promise. In the journey to our destiny, we must remain joyful, prosperous, and forgiving.

5. No man, no evil, no circumstance can prevent you from walking in your destiny. And just when it seems all hope is gone, God can flip the script suddenly. Therefore, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of God. Arise!

Friends, even though your situation seems hopeless, know God is in the middle of it. He has not forgotten you. Choose joy. Choose to prosper. Choose forgiveness. God is leading you in this journey. He will not forsake you.

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬