Finding Hope and Purpose in Suffering

Devotional

Day 1: God is Working Even When Life is Unfair

Even when life feels unjust and circumstances seem stacked against you, God is still present and actively shaping your story. Joseph’s journey from favored son to betrayed brother, slave, and prisoner was marked by deep injustice, yet God orchestrated every detail, placing him exactly where he needed to be for a greater purpose. In the silence and obscurity of suffering, God’s providence is at work, refining character and preparing hearts for what lies ahead. When you feel sidelined or overlooked, remember that God’s silence is never His absence—He is guiding, shaping, and working through your pain in ways you cannot yet see. [56:45]

Genesis 40:1-4 (ESV)
"Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody."

Reflection: When you feel life is unfair or you are overlooked, where do your thoughts and emotions go? How can you choose to trust that God is still working in your situation today?

Day 2: God Provides Ministry Even in Our Own Suffering

In the midst of his own pain and injustice, Joseph did not retreat into self-pity but remained attentive to the needs of others. He noticed the burdens of the cupbearer and baker, offering compassion and help even while he himself was suffering. God’s providence includes not just where you are, but who you are with and how you can serve them. Like Joseph, you are called to be open to God’s opportunities for ministry, even when you feel weary or sidelined. Faithfulness in obscurity and suffering means being willing to serve others, reflecting the heart of Jesus, who saw and met the needs of others even in His own suffering. [01:03:28]

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Reflection: Who around you is carrying a burden that you might be overlooking because of your own struggles? What is one practical way you can serve or encourage someone else today, even if you feel weary?

Day 3: God Speaks Truth Through Us Even in Our Pain

Joseph faithfully delivered God’s message to both the cupbearer and the baker, even when the truth was difficult and the outcome uncertain. Speaking truth, especially in times of personal pain, is an act of faith and trust in God. Joseph’s willingness to share both hope and hard news points to the greater innocent sufferer, Jesus, who also spoke truth and offered mercy while enduring suffering. Your faithfulness in sharing God’s truth, even when it is hard or costly, can be a powerful witness to those around you. [01:13:22]

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)
"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."

Reflection: Is there a difficult truth you need to share with someone, or a word of encouragement you’ve been holding back? How can you speak God’s truth in love today, even if it feels costly or uncomfortable?

Day 4: God’s Purposes Are Coming True Even When We Feel Forgotten

After faithfully serving and speaking truth, Joseph was forgotten by the cupbearer and left in prison. Yet, God’s purposes were still unfolding in His perfect timing. Human forgetfulness or neglect does not hinder God’s plans; your hope is not in people, but in God alone. Even when you feel overlooked or stuck in a season of waiting, God is working behind the scenes, fulfilling His promises and shaping you for what is to come. Trust that God’s timing is perfect, and He will accomplish what He has promised in your life. [01:22:12]

Psalm 105:17-19 (ESV)
"He had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him."

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel forgotten or stuck in waiting? How can you shift your hope from people or circumstances to God’s faithfulness and timing today?

Day 5: Salvation Comes Through Suffering—Christ, Our Greater Joseph

The story of Joseph ultimately points to Jesus, the true innocent sufferer, who was betrayed, falsely accused, and endured the cross for our salvation. Suffering is at the heart of the Christian story—not as an end, but as the means by which God brings redemption and hope. Jesus suffered for us, bearing our sin and judgment, and was raised to life so that we might be restored to God. In your own trials, remember that Christ walks with you and has already secured your ultimate victory. Let your suffering draw you closer to Him, and let His story shape your response to every hardship. [01:26:45]

Romans 5:8 (ESV)
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Reflection: How does remembering Christ’s suffering for you change the way you view your own trials today? What is one way you can respond to Jesus’ love and sacrifice in the midst of your current struggles?

Sermon Summary

God never promises a life free from suffering, but He offers something far greater: His abiding presence. In every trial, in every moment of weakness or chaos, God is not distant or indifferent. He is actively shaping, refining, and sanctifying us through our pain. The story of Joseph in Genesis is a powerful reminder of this truth. Joseph’s life was marked by betrayal, injustice, and long seasons of waiting. Yet, through every pit and prison, God’s providence was quietly at work, orchestrating every detail for a greater purpose.

Joseph’s journey began with dreams of future greatness, but those dreams led him into a decade of obscurity and hardship. Sold by his brothers, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison, Joseph could have easily believed that God had abandoned him. Instead, he remained faithful, trusting that God was working even when life was unfair. In the silence and waiting, Joseph’s hope was refined, his character shaped, and his trust deepened. God’s promises did not fail; they simply unfolded in God’s perfect timing.

Even in the darkness of prison, Joseph did not retreat into self-pity. He noticed the suffering of others and served them, ministering to Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker in their distress. Joseph’s willingness to speak God’s truth—whether it was a message of hope or a hard word of judgment—demonstrated his faithfulness. He did not need a platform or recognition; he simply needed open eyes and a willing heart.

Joseph’s story points us to Jesus, the greater innocent sufferer, who was also betrayed, falsely accused, and hung between two criminals. Like Joseph, Jesus offered hope and restoration to those who would trust Him, even in His own suffering. The outcomes for the two criminals on the cross remind us that our response to Jesus determines our destiny—not human favor, but faith in the Savior.

When we feel forgotten or overlooked, Joseph’s example calls us to keep listening to God’s Word, keep speaking truth, and keep serving faithfully where God has placed us. Our suffering is never wasted. God is shaping us for purposes beyond what we can see, and His silence is never His absence. In Christ, suffering is not the end of the story—it is the place where God’s greatest work is often done.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Presence in Unfairness: When life feels unjust and we are tempted to believe God is absent, we must remember that His silence is not His absence. God often does His deepest work in the quietest, most overlooked seasons of our lives. Even when circumstances seem random or unfair, God is orchestrating every detail for our good and His glory. Trusting Him in these moments shapes our character and deepens our faith. [54:44]
2. Ministry in the Midst of Suffering: Suffering does not disqualify us from serving others; in fact, it often becomes the very context in which God uses us most powerfully. Joseph, though suffering injustice, noticed the pain of others and ministered to them with compassion. Our own trials can open our eyes to the burdens of those around us, and God provides opportunities for us to serve, even when we feel weak or sidelined. [62:13]
3. Speaking Truth in Pain: Faithfulness to God means speaking His truth, even when it is difficult or costly. Joseph delivered both hopeful and hard messages with honesty and compassion, trusting God with the outcomes. Our willingness to speak truth—especially when we ourselves are hurting—can become a powerful testimony of faith and hope to those around us. [73:22]
4. Waiting with Hope, Not Despair: Long seasons of waiting can tempt us to despair or to place our hope in people rather than God. Joseph’s story teaches us that God’s timing is perfect, and His purposes are being fulfilled even when we feel forgotten. Our hope must rest in God alone, who is never late and never fails to keep His promises. [82:12]
5. Christ, the Greater Sufferer: Joseph’s life foreshadows Jesus, who suffered innocently and offered salvation to the guilty. The difference between the two criminals on the cross was not their guilt, but their response to Jesus. In our suffering, we are invited to cry out to Christ for mercy, trusting that He alone can lift us up and restore us. Our fate is determined not by human favor, but by faith in the Savior who suffered for us. [01:17:15]
** [77:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - God’s Presence in Suffering
[03:10] - Prayer for the Congregation
[07:30] - Introduction to Joseph’s Story
[11:20] - Joseph’s Early Trials and God’s Providence
[15:40] - The Long Wait: God’s Timing and Our Hope
[20:05] - Joseph in Prison: Faithfulness in Obscurity
[25:00] - God’s Work in Unfair Circumstances
[29:30] - Ministry Opportunities in Suffering
[34:00] - Joseph Interprets the Dreams
[39:00] - Speaking Truth in Hard Times
[44:30] - The Gospel Connection: Joseph and Jesus
[50:00] - Waiting and Trusting God’s Purposes
[54:00] - Lessons for Our Own Suffering
[58:00] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In Genesis 40, what specific injustices did Joseph experience while in Egypt? How did he respond to these situations?
When the cupbearer and baker were troubled by their dreams, what did Joseph notice about them, and how did he respond?
According to James 1:2-4, what is the purpose of trials in the life of a believer?
In Psalm 105:19, what does it say “refined” Joseph during his time of suffering?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “God often does His deepest work in the quietest, most overlooked seasons of our lives.” Why might God choose to work in us during times when we feel forgotten or sidelined?
Joseph served and ministered to others even while he was suffering himself. What does this reveal about his character and his trust in God?
Joseph spoke both hopeful and hard truths to the cupbearer and baker. Why is it important to speak God’s truth, even when it’s difficult or costly?
The sermon draws a parallel between Joseph and Jesus, both innocent sufferers. What is the significance of the two criminals’ different responses to Jesus on the cross?

Application Questions

When you feel like life is unfair or you’re being overlooked, where do your thoughts and emotions tend to go? How can Joseph’s example help you trust that God is still present and working?
Think about a current or past season of suffering in your life. Did you notice opportunities to serve or encourage others during that time? If not, what might help you be more attentive to others’ needs even when you’re hurting?
Joseph didn’t need a platform or recognition to serve—he just needed “open eyes and a willing heart.” What are some practical ways you can serve those around you this week, even if you feel weak or unnoticed?
Is there a situation where you need to speak truth, even though it might be hard or uncomfortable? What holds you back, and how can you trust God with the outcome?
Joseph waited years for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Are there areas in your life where you are waiting on God? How can you wait with hope instead of despair?
The sermon says, “Our fate is determined not by human favor, but by faith in the Savior who suffered for us.” Are you tempted to put your hope in people or circumstances instead of Christ? What would it look like to shift your hope to Jesus this week?
The story of Joseph and the two criminals on the cross reminds us that our response to Jesus matters most. How would you describe your response to Jesus in your current season of life?

Sermon Clips

Trials are not detours in the Christian life. They're not evidence that you failed. They are part of God's good and refining design. They refine us, they really do. They reveal what we trust. They reveal where we actually have placed our hope. And they ready us for what's ahead. And they shape us into what God is calling us to be. [00:39:13] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

Joseph's suffering wasn't wasted. Neither is yours. No suffering is wasted in the life of a believer. Joseph's suffering was God's foundation. He was laying a foundation for a future rescue that was to come. [00:48:09] (15 seconds) Edit Clip

Joseph didn't need a pulpit. He didn't need a platform to minister. All he needed was open eyes and a willing heart. And God provided the opportunity to this man in prison. And Joseph was faithful to minister because God was working. [01:03:48] (17 seconds) Edit Clip

Speaking the truth is an act of faith. Even if it's a hard truth, it's an act of trust in God. So again, we have two men, two dreams, two very different outcomes. One prisoner receives a message of hope and restoration, and the other one receives a message of judgment and condemnation. [01:13:23] (23 seconds) Edit Clip

Joseph's life has been marked by injustice after injustice, kidnapped, sold as a slave 11 years ago. He's been serving faithfully. Then he was thrown into prison. And this is the only recorded moment where we see Joseph advocating for himself. And I think, here's what I want you to get from that is we're not, we're not to think he's being selfish or unfaithful because it's not wrong to point out when people do sin against you. [01:09:22] (27 seconds) Edit Clip

The silence of man does not mean the absence of God. The thing we need to learn is Joseph's not depending on the cupbearer. He really doesn't have anything to do with the cupbearer. His hope is not in the cupbearer. His hope is not in Pharaoh. His hope is in God. God would get him out of that prison when God was ready to get him out of that prison. [01:21:55] (23 seconds) Edit Clip

God still calls His people to speak truth even in our own suffering, even in our own trials, even when it's hard. In fact, our suffering, friends, it may become the very most powerful platform we've ever had. When you speak of hope while you yourself are in pain, people listen. Your faithfulness and your sorrow might just be the clearest sermon you'll ever preach. [01:23:53] (32 seconds) Edit Clip

Keep serving where God has placed you. Because I guarantee you that Joseph didn't choose the prison as his place of ministry. And I guarantee you he didn't have a say in the people that God gave him to minister to. But Joseph chose faithfulness anyway. You may feel stuck in a hard job, in a hard marriage. You may be in a strained home, a tense home. You may be in a season of waiting that you just think is killing you. But your place is not accidental. God put you there. [01:24:41] (38 seconds) Edit Clip

Joseph was innocent, rejected, and forgotten, but he remained faithful, right? And all the while, through his faithfulness, God was shaping him, preparing him through all of these trials. Joseph had what we call a long obedience in the same direction. I want your lives to be marked by that. A long obedience in the same direction, regardless of your circumstance. [01:25:51] (26 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus doesn't just walk through suffering with us. Christ suffered for us in our place. He bore our sin. He endured God's judgment upon his own body on the cross. He purchased our forgiveness. Yeah, suffering is the heart of our story. Suffering Savior. [01:27:05] (21 seconds) Edit Clip

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