Growth Happens in Silence: Lessons from Joseph's Journey

Devotional

Day 1: Growth Begins with a Seed

God often gives us dreams or callings that start small and seem insignificant, much like a seed buried in the ground. At first, these dreams may not be recognized or celebrated by others, and sometimes they are even met with resistance or skepticism. Yet, just as a seed must be buried and hidden before it can sprout, our growth often happens in the quiet, unseen places of our lives. In these silent seasons, God is at work, developing our character and preparing us for what is to come. Don’t mistake the seed stage for failure—what looks like nothing now may become a great blessing later. [46:28]

Genesis 37:5 (ESV)
Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.

Reflection: What is one dream or calling God has placed in your heart that you’ve been tempted to dismiss because it seems small or unnoticed? How can you nurture that “seed” today, even if no one else sees it?

Day 2: Growth Requires Misunderstanding

When God gives you a vision or purpose, not everyone will understand or support you. Sometimes, those closest to you may even misunderstand or oppose what God is doing in your life. This misunderstanding can feel isolating, but it is often a necessary part of growth. God may use these moments to separate you from people or environments that cannot go where He is taking you. Rather than grieving over those who don’t “get” you, recognize that their misunderstanding can actually be the fertilizer that helps your purpose grow. [53:20]

Genesis 37:8, 11 (ESV)
His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words… And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Reflection: Who in your life has misunderstood or doubted your God-given purpose? How can you respond with grace and faithfulness, trusting God to use even misunderstanding for your growth?

Day 3: Growth Happens in the Pit

There are seasons when following God’s call leads us into difficult, lonely, or even painful places—the “pit.” In these times, it may feel like God is silent and nothing is happening, but the pit is often where God does His deepest work in us. It is in the pit that we learn humility, patience, dependence on God, and discover our true identity. Even when there are no affirmations or applause, God is forming us for the future He has prepared. What God doesn’t remove, He often uses to shape us. [56:17]

Genesis 37:24 (ESV)
And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.

Reflection: Think of a “pit” season in your life—how did God use that time to shape your character or faith? What is one way you can trust Him in your current challenges?

Day 4: Silence is Not Punishment, but Preparation

God’s silence is not a sign of His absence or punishment, but often a sign that He is preparing you for something greater. Just as a seed grows in the dark soil and a baby forms in the hiddenness of the womb, God does His best work in the unseen places. In these silent seasons, He is positioning you for destiny, forming your spiritual growth, and preparing you for the harvest to come. Don’t fight the silence—lean into it, trusting that God is working behind the scenes for your good. [01:04:59]

Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel God is silent right now? How can you shift your perspective to see this silence as preparation rather than punishment?

Day 5: Serve While You Wait

Waiting on God’s promises is not a passive activity. Like a good waiter who serves while waiting for the next order, we are called to serve others and remain faithful even as we wait for God’s timing. There is a difference between sitting and waiting, and serving while waiting. In your season of waiting, look for ways to bless others, carry the weight God has given you, and trust that He will bring your purpose to fruition in His perfect timing. [01:09:12]

John 13:14-15 (ESV)
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can serve someone else today, even as you wait for God to fulfill a promise or answer a prayer in your own life?

Sermon Summary

There are seasons in life when God calls us to grow, not in the spotlight, but in the quiet, hidden places where no one is watching. Just as a seed must be buried in darkness before it can break through the soil, so too does God often develop our character and purpose in times of silence and obscurity. Joseph’s story in Genesis 37 is a powerful reminder of this truth. He received a dream from God—a glimpse of his destiny—but before that dream could become reality, Joseph had to endure misunderstanding, betrayal, and the loneliness of the pit. God gave him a vision, but then allowed him to walk through seasons where it seemed like God was silent.

Growth begins with a seed, and that seed is often planted in the soil of isolation. We may want to announce our calling or share our dreams with everyone, but not everyone will understand or celebrate what God is doing in our lives. Sometimes, the very people we expect to support us will be the ones who misunderstand or even oppose us. Yet, it is in these moments of misunderstanding and separation that God is making room for us to grow. The silence is not a sign of God’s absence, but of His careful, intentional work beneath the surface.

The pit—those seasons of disappointment, rejection, or confusion—can feel like punishment, but they are actually classrooms where God shapes our humility, patience, and dependence on Him. In the pit, we learn who we truly are, apart from applause or affirmation. Even when God seems silent, He is preparing us for what’s next. The silence is not punishment; it is preparation.

God does His best work in the dark. Like a diamond formed under pressure, or a baby growing in the womb, our most significant growth often happens when no one else can see it. If you find yourself in a silent season, misunderstood or alone, don’t fight it. Lean into it. Trust that God is working, even when you can’t hear Him. Wait well—not just sitting idly, but serving faithfully, knowing that in due time, God will bring forth the harvest He has promised.

Key Takeaways

1. Growth Begins in Hidden Places True growth often starts in obscurity, where no one sees or applauds. Like a seed buried in the ground, God develops our character and purpose in the quiet, unseen moments. These hidden seasons are not wasted; they are essential for deep, lasting transformation. [46:28]
2. Misunderstanding Is Fertilizer for Your Calling Being misunderstood or rejected by others is often part of God’s process. When people walk away or fail to support your vision, it creates space for God to work more deeply in you. Their misunderstanding is not a setback, but a catalyst for your growth and dependence on God alone. [53:20]
3. The Pit Is a Classroom, Not a Grave Seasons of disappointment, loss, or silence are not the end of your story. In the pit, God teaches humility, patience, and trust. What feels like punishment is actually preparation, forming you for the destiny God has prepared. [56:17]
4. Silence Is God’s Workshop When God seems silent, He is often working most powerfully. Silence is not abandonment; it is the environment where God shapes, refines, and positions you for greater things. Trust the process, even when you can’t trace His hand. [64:59]
5. Serve While You Wait Waiting on God is not passive. Like a good waiter, serve faithfully even as you wait for your breakthrough. Carry the weight God has given you, and trust that in due time, He will bring the increase and reveal the purpose behind your silent season. [69:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[02:10] - Introduction and Personal Reflections
[04:30] - The Journey to Kingdom Church
[07:00] - The Fourth Quarter: What Now?
[09:15] - Sharing the Vision and Facing Doubt
[12:00] - Joseph’s Dream: Growth in Silence
[15:00] - Growth Begins with a Seed
[18:00] - The Pain of Misunderstanding
[21:00] - Separation and God’s Purpose
[24:00] - Growth Happens in the Pit
[28:00] - Personal Pit Seasons and Lessons
[32:00] - Silence as Preparation, Not Punishment
[36:00] - Serving While Waiting
[39:00] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
[41:00] - Announcements and Next Steps

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In Genesis 37, what was Joseph’s dream, and how did his brothers and father respond to it? ([46:28])
According to the sermon, what are the different “phases” Joseph went through after receiving his dream? ([44:24])
What does 2 Corinthians 6:17 say about separation, and how does the sermon connect this to Joseph’s story? ([53:20])
In Galatians 6:9, what promise is given to those who “do not give up” while doing good? ([01:07:09])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God often chooses to develop people “in silence” or in hidden places, rather than in the spotlight? ([46:28])
The sermon says, “If you live for the applause, you’ll die when they boo you.” What does this mean in the context of Joseph’s story and our own lives? ([48:47])
How can misunderstanding and rejection from others actually help us grow in our faith and dependence on God? ([53:20])
The pit is described as a “classroom, not a grave.” What are some lessons Joseph (and we) can only learn in the “pit” seasons of life? ([56:17])

Application Questions

Have you ever felt like you were in a “silent season” where God seemed absent or quiet? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that time? ([01:04:59])
Is there a dream or calling you feel God has given you that others have misunderstood or even opposed? How did their reaction affect you, and what would you do differently now? ([46:28])
The sermon says, “Don’t fight the silent seasons. Lean into it.” What would it look like for you to “lean in” instead of resisting or complaining during a hard or quiet season? ([01:04:59])
Are there people in your life right now who don’t understand your faith or your choices? How can you handle their misunderstanding in a way that honors God and helps you grow? ([53:20])
Think about a time when you felt “in the pit”—disappointed, rejected, or alone. Looking back, can you see any ways God was shaping your character or preparing you for something greater? ([56:17])
The sermon talks about “serving while you wait.” What is one practical way you can serve God or others right now, even if you’re still waiting for your breakthrough or answer? ([01:09:12])
Galatians 6:9 encourages us not to give up. Is there an area in your life where you’re tempted to quit? What would it look like to “wait well” and keep doing good in that area? ([01:07:09])

Sermon Clips

Growth is often invisible before it becomes undeniable. Just like a seed grows underground where no one sees applause and notice it, God develops his people in seasons of silence, obscurity, and also misunderstanding. See, Joseph teaches us that before you ever wear a coat in the palace, you must endure silence in the pit. Before you ever interpret dreams in Egypt, you must endure seasons where nothing seems to be going on and happening. But in silence, God is forming something into you that will later flourish publicly. God loves to develop in silence. [00:43:47] (51 seconds) #InvisibleGrowth

A seed cannot grow on the surface. A seed must be buried. A seed must be buried. If you ever want to know how growth feels, just ask a seed. If you ever want to feel how growth is, just ask a seed. A seed is taken. It's put in dirt. Have a funeral for the seed. And it's put deep in the ground where nobody can seize it. And it's alone. Has no one to talk to. A seed is growing in silence. [00:47:45] (44 seconds) #SeedInSilence

Don't mistake the seed stage for failure. Some of your greatest blessings look like nothing at first. Don't expect everyone to be happy for what God is doing in your life. Don't expect it. God would turn a burial into resurrection. If you want to know a true story, ask Jesus. His burial was the reason why we're here today to worship and praise God, because he had to go through something in order for something to be birthed. And that's our freedom to worship. [00:49:18] (38 seconds) #BlessingsInDisguise

Everyone is not ready to go where God is taking you. Everyone is not meant to understand what God has purpose in your life. Don't allow everyone's expectations to shape up your purpose. Don't allow everyone's expectations to shape up your purpose. Seeds and apple are together until it's time for one to grow. The truth is growth often begins when God allows the wrong people to walk away. Growth begins when God allows the wrong people to walk away. [00:54:17] (37 seconds) #WrongPeopleWalkAway

I'm just doing what God told me to do. I'm just going where you tell me to go. And God, this is my reward? Are you kidding me? I tell my brothers, the people that I told, throw me in a pit, my loved ones. Joseph goes from being a favorite son to being in the pit. But in the pit is where he learned how to be humble, how to be patient, how to depend on God. And he learned his identity in the pit. [00:57:32] (41 seconds) #IdentityInThePit

The truth is, what God doesn't remove, he tend to use. Your pit season is the classroom where God forms your character. The prodigal son never knew who he was until he was in a pig's pen. The Bible declares that when he was in a pig's pen away from his father, away from his brother, away from the people that spent all this money, the Bible says he came to himself. And that's when he found out who he was. [01:03:54] (37 seconds) #GodWorksInDarkness

Jesus asked his father three times to take the cup from him before he went on the cross. And guess what? God didn't say anything. This is God's son. And God was silent. And that leads us to our final point, point number four. Silence is not God punishing you. It's God preparing you. It's not about God punishing you. It's God preparing you. [01:04:30] (39 seconds) #TrustTheSilentSeason

If I would have took that deal, my life would have been different. If I would have signed that paper, I would have gave in to the enemy. God was silent in the pit. God was silent in the caravan. God was silent even when Joseph went to the king's house. But behind the scene, Joseph was being positioned for destiny. The truth is, God does his work in the dark. God does his best work in the dark. [01:05:24] (44 seconds) #ReapInDueTime

Just like a baby grows in a dark womb. Just like a seed grows in a hidden soil. Just like a diamond forms in unseen pressure. God does his best work in the dark. So right now he is forming your spiritual growth when a lot of times you feel like everybody don't understand you. Trust me, I understand. When you misunderstood why you go to church, why you praise God, why you take communion, why you do the things that you do, God understands. [01:06:08] (40 seconds) #PlantedNotBuried

But the waiter responsibility is to take what you order and bring it to your table. And while they're hungry, they're serving. While they're waiting on their blessing. They're not just sitting down waiting. They're serving. And I always tell my kids, there's two type of waiters. There's people that sit down and wait. And then there's ones who serve while waiting on their blessing. [01:09:57] (31 seconds)

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