Key Verse
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
— Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
Introduction
Sometimes, life places us in pits—dark, lonely places where it feels like no one sees, no one hears, and no one cares. It’s a painful season where you feel trapped, abandoned, and forgotten. Yet, even the pits of life are part of God’s process. They are pathways to your divine destiny. The story of Joseph is a powerful reminder that no pit is too deep for God’s purpose.
Message
1. Joseph’s Wilderness Journey
Joseph’s journey into destiny began in a dry, waterless pit in the wilderness. Betrayed by his own brothers out of jealousy, Joseph was cast into the pit and left there despite his desperate cries for help (Genesis 37:22-24; 42:21).
Have you ever been in a similar situation—crying out, yet feeling ignored, as though no one hears or cares?
Joseph’s brothers eventually sold him to Egyptian merchants who were passing by, and his journey led him into slavery in Egypt. Just when it seemed things might improve, he was falsely accused and thrown into prison—another pit, another wilderness.
2. God Was Working All Along
Though Joseph’s path seemed like a series of painful setbacks, each wilderness experience was a stepping stone toward his God-ordained destiny; every trial was divinely orchestrated to prepare him for his ultimate assignment.
Even in prison, God was shaping him for leadership. He served faithfully and ministered to fellow inmates who later forgot about him. Yet God never forgot.
Eventually, Joseph was supernaturally lifted from prison to the palace. He became ruler of Egypt and was used by God to save nations from famine.
3. Healing from the Pain of the Past
When Joseph later married and became a father, the names he gave his two sons reflected his personal journey of healing:
- Manasseh, meaning “God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house” (Genesis 41:51).
Joseph didn’t forget his family, but he moved past the pain of what they did to him. - Ephraim, meaning “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Genesis 41:52).
Joseph didn’t wait for perfect conditions to flourish—he thrived even in the land of his affliction. He flourished, not because his life was easy, but because he surrendered his pain to God.
God doesn’t always erase our memories of painful seasons. You may remember the hardship, but He wants to heal you of the wounds or stings so you longer live trapped by them. He desires to make you fruitful despite the affliction.
4. Hold On to the Dream
Through all the years of betrayal, imprisonment, and hardship, Joseph never lost sight of the dreams God had given him as a young boy (Genesis 42:9). When his time of destiny arrived, Joseph remembered the dreams.
Whatever wilderness you find yourself in right now, refuse to abandon your God-given vision. The pit is not your destination—it is a passage. Even when your present circumstances seem to contradict your destiny, hold on to what God had shown you. At the end, that vision shall surely come to pass (Habakkuk 2:3).
5. A Legacy of Hope
Even in death, Joseph’s eyes remained on the promise. He requested that his bones be carried out of Egypt when Israel entered their Promised Land (Genesis 50:24-26). His coffin became a silent testimony to future generations that God would surely deliver His people.
No matter how dark or long your wilderness seems, it will not last forever. God has a plan. You will not remain in the pit.
Conclusion
You may feel like you are in a pit today, but it is not the end of your story. God is at work behind the scenes, orchestrating your wilderness into a pathway to purpose.
For Joseph, the pit was the first step toward the palace. Your pit is not permanent. The wilderness is not your final address. Trust that God is working through your present pain to shape your future purpose.
Let Him heal you, and remain anchored to the dream He has placed in your heart. The journey is not over—your story is still unfolding.
So, do not abandon your vision. Do not surrender your dreams. God is faithful to finish what He started in you. Even the pits are part of His plan.
Practical Reflection
- Are you allowing the pain of your past to hinder your progress?
- Are you choosing to grow and be fruitful, even in difficult places?
- Revisit the dreams and visions God gave you—are you still holding on?
Prayer Points
- Father, I surrender every painful experience of my past to You; heal me and make me whole.
- Lord, help me to see purpose in the pit and trust that You are shaping my destiny.
- Holy Spirit, strengthen me to hold on to my God-given dreams, even in the wilderness.
Further Study
- Genesis 37:1-36
- Genesis 39-41
- Genesis 42:9
- Genesis 50:24-26
- Romans 8:28