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By Austin Bishop

17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. 18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. 19 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.

— Genesis 50: 17-20 (NIV)

The story of Joseph begins in the 37th chapter of Genesis and runs through the 50th. It uncovers the power of forgiveness, strong work ethic, determination, overcoming adversity, and above all faith.

He was betrayed by his brothers, his bosses, and his peers, yet his character never weakened. Instead, it grew.

In life we will face a lot of things that will both challenge and teach us. What we learn from the unexpected is very important. Instead of derailing us, we must treat these occasions as educational moments.

Betrayal is part of life. When you are betrayed it is disappointing, because most likely you were betrayed by someone you trusted.

How you deal with betrayal is very important. It can be a slippery slope that stunts your spiritual growth. If you allow it to cause you to never trust or never give responsibility or authority to someone else, then you are already defeated.

In the end, it will be your character and reputation that you stand upon, even in the darkest of times. Build it well upon a strong foundation of Biblical truth. You will find the gifts of the Spirit and the fruits fo the Spirit are the biggest tools in your toolbox. Use them often and well.

Knowing and understanding that God has a long-term plan will help you overcome adversity and make tough decisions in the moment. Trusting in the future God has for you helps you conquer today.

God’s wisdom and preparation can help you be successful even during the tough times. Many fail because they relax during a successful run and don’t make good decisions that will help them in tougher times ahead.

Always get the best out of your now while also looking ahead. Many can stand strong during prosperity, while only a few can walk others through adversity. What you do during prosperity makes a huge difference when adversity arrives.

Understand that God has a bigger vision for you than you could ever have for yourself. Trusting the process and growing in your abilities step by step will land you where you were destined to be.

The life of Joseph makes it clear that vengeance is not an honorable trait, while submission, patience, and consistency are.

Austin Bishop has been a journalist for 50 years and is an ordained minister. Those wishing to receive his daily devotional/Bible study notes may sign up by texting 601-938-2471 and asking to be added to either the morning or afternoon list. He can be reached by e-mail at starsportsboss@yahoo.com.