Joseph's J-Shaped Life: Suffering Redeemed in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: God Uses Intended Evil for Unimaginable Good

Joseph’s story reminds us that betrayal, false accusation, and being forgotten do not have the last word. What others meant to harm him, God wove into a plan that saved many lives. None of his tears were wasted; not one long night in the prison fell outside God’s care. The same God is with you in your pit and in your prison, redeeming what seems irredeemable. Trust that he is working even when you cannot see the end. [48:48]

Genesis 50:20 — You intended to harm me, but God turned those very actions toward good, bringing about the rescue of many lives.

Reflection: Where do you feel like you are in a pit or a prison right now, and what is one small act of trust you can practice there this week?

Day 2: The J-Shaped Life: Humbling and Lifting by God

We want life to go up and to the right, but the way of Jesus is shaped like a J—down into humility, then up into life. Sometimes life humbles us; other times we must choose the lower place through repentance, forgiveness, and loving those who don’t deserve it. This downward way is not pointless—it is the path Jesus takes to raise us. As we humble ourselves, we entrust our story to the One who knows how to lift at the right time. The way down with Jesus becomes the way up with Jesus. [59:17]

Luke 14:11 — If you lift yourself up, you will be brought low; if you choose the low place, God himself will lift you up.

Reflection: What is one concrete way you can willingly take a lower place this week—an apology to make, a hidden act of service, or a step of forgiveness?

Day 3: No Tear Wasted: Purpose in the Valley

Joseph’s delays were not dead ends; they were preparation. If he had stayed home, or remained in Potiphar’s house, or been released from prison a day earlier, the rescue God planned would have fallen apart. God was weaving timing, placement, and even heartbreak into a purpose Joseph could not yet imagine. Your waiting is not wasted, and your faithfulness in small places matters more than you can see. Keep doing the next right thing while God writes the rest of the story. [52:50]

Genesis 45:4-8 — “I am Joseph. Don’t punish yourselves for selling me here. God sent me ahead of you to keep people alive, to preserve a remnant. It wasn’t ultimately you who sent me here, but God, who set me in this place for your good.”

Reflection: Where do you feel delayed or forgotten, and what small, faithful step will you take this week while you wait—someone to serve, a habit to keep, or a prayer to pray?

Day 4: United with Christ: Suffering Now, Glory to Come

Those who share in Christ’s life also share in his sufferings—and in his glory. The Spirit whispers that we are God’s children and heirs, even as creation groans and we groan too. Our present pain cannot be compared with the future God has promised. Hold fast: the valley is real, but it is not forever. We will be raised with him, whole and free. [01:03:40]

Romans 8:16-18, 22-23 — God’s Spirit affirms that we are his children and heirs with Christ. If we suffer with him, we will also be glorified with him. The pains we face now are not worth weighing against the glory to come. All creation groans, and we groan too, as we wait for our full adoption—the redemption of our bodies.

Reflection: When your week feels like groaning, what simple practice will help you remember the coming glory—a daily verse, a breath prayer, or a reminder set on your phone?

Day 5: The Cross: Worst Suffering, Greatest Salvation

Jesus, the only truly innocent one, was despised, rejected, and crucified—an unthinkable evil God used for the greatest good. At the cross, God was healing the world’s brokenness and opening the way into new life. Because he went to the very bottom, his resurrection lifts us into a life that never ends. You are invited to trust him in your valley, confident he can turn even this into beauty. His redemption is bigger than our sin, deeper than our shame, and stronger than our suffering. [56:45]

2 Corinthians 5:21 — For our sake, God placed our sin upon the One who knew no sin, so that in union with him we become the very righteousness God gives.

Reflection: What burden of guilt or shame are you still carrying that Jesus has already carried for you, and how will you practice receiving his righteousness today?

Sermon Summary

Genesis traces a winding path of promise, and Joseph’s life becomes a striking preview of how God works redemption through suffering. Favored and resented, Joseph is betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, forgotten in prison, and then—by God’s surprising providence—raised to become Egypt’s second-in-command. His wisdom during seven years of plenty preserves nations during seven years of famine. When those same brothers come begging for grain, Joseph refuses revenge. He reframes their sin inside God’s larger purpose: “You meant evil… but God meant it for good,” not calling wickedness good, but asserting that divine sovereignty can bend malice toward mercy. He forgives them, provides for them, and gathers the whole family into his care, a vivid portrait of grace that overwhelms guilt with undeserved kindness.

This arc sketches a “J-shaped life”: descent into hardship, then a rising that surpasses the starting point. Joseph’s descent was not wasted time; it was the very means God used to save many lives. That shape—down and then up—echoes even more clearly in Jesus. The eternal Son descends into our world, is despised and crucified—truly the worst thing—but God turns the worst into the best, reconciling the world through the cross and inaugurating a resurrection that rises without end. Those united to Christ are invited into the same pattern: not a life of unbroken ease, but shared suffering now and shared glory forever. Repentance, forgiveness, loving enemies, and costly obedience often move us further down the curve, yet this is precisely the way God exalts the humbled. Present groanings are real and not minimized; they are also not the end. In Christ, the valley is neither purposeless nor permanent. Every tear, every delay, every forgotten corner becomes raw material in the hands of a Redeemer who weaves eternal good beyond our imagination. The call is simple and hard: trust him in the pit, in the prison, in the long wait—because the J-shape of Jesus guarantees that those who descend with him will be lifted with him into everlasting life.

Key Takeaways

1. God redeems intended evil for good God does not rebrand wickedness as good; he overrules it. Joseph refuses vengeance because he sees a larger hand guiding the story, turning malice into preservation. This reframes how Christians interpret harm: not as fate, but as material for redemption. Hope grows when sovereignty and goodness are held together. [48:04]
2. Embrace the J-shaped life Life in God’s hands often descends before it rises. The valley seasons are not wasted; they become the very conditions for wisdom, compassion, and mission. Faith matures where self-sufficiency dies. Expect the curve down—and trust the God who writes the curve up. [51:10]
3. Jesus’ descent leads to glory The incarnation and cross are the lowest point of the curve, and the resurrection is the irreversible ascent. The worst injustice becomes the world’s salvation in God’s design. This anchors Christian hope: the pattern is set by Jesus, not by our circumstances. His upsurge guarantees ours. [56:01]
4. Share in suffering and glory Union with Christ means participation in both the cross and the crown. Suffering does not negate sonship; it confirms our inheritance alongside him. Present pain is real, but not final; it yields to a glory that dwarfs it. Endurance is sustained by promised exaltation. [62:29]
5. Humble trust in the valley Some descents are chosen—repentance, forgiveness, serving the undeserving; others are imposed—loss, betrayal, waiting. Either way, the call is to entrust the story to God. Humility is not self-erasure but a posture that God lifts in due time. The pit becomes the place of future praise. [66:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:32] - Joseph’s family tensions begin
[30:36] - Betrayal, pit, and slavery
[32:01] - False accusation and prison
[33:12] - Our “up and to the right” myth
[35:06] - Pharaoh’s dreams remembered
[36:05] - Joseph interprets and plans
[39:29] - Elevated to save nations
[40:29] - Brothers return and the test
[43:17] - Judah’s substitutionary offer
[44:52] - Revelation, forgiveness, and grace
[48:04] - “You meant evil… God meant good”
[50:35] - The J-shaped life explained
[54:13] - From Joseph to Jesus
[56:01] - The cross: worst to best
[57:28] - United with Christ’s pattern
[62:29] - Suffering with him, glory with him
[63:40] - Living in the valley with hope
[67:16] - Prayer and blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

- Genesis 45:4-8

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God; he made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

- Genesis 50:19-21

Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

- Romans 8:16-25

Observation questions

In Genesis 45:4-8, Joseph repeats both what his brothers did and what God did. What are the two truths he holds together, and how does that repetition shape the moment?
In Genesis 50:19-21, which two statements keep Joseph from revenge, and how do they belong together rather than cancel each other out?
In Romans 8:16-25, list the words that describe present experience (“groan,” “suffer,” “futility”) and the words that describe future hope (“glory,” “freedom,” “redemption”). What contrast stands out most?
In the retold story, what exact test did Joseph set for his brothers, and what offer did Judah make in response? ([41:21])

Interpretation questions

“You meant evil… but God meant it for good” holds human responsibility and God’s sovereignty together. How does this affirm real guilt and real grace at the same time, and what would be lost if either side were denied? ([48:04])
Judah’s offer, “let me remain instead of the boy,” is a substitution. What does this reveal about a changed heart, and how does it foreshadow the way God saves through Jesus? ([43:35])
The “up and to the right” life-map clashes with the J-shaped life. What assumptions or idols does the J-shape expose in a culture that expects constant ascent? ([33:57])
Romans 8 says suffering with Christ confirms adoption and leads to shared glory. How does that redefine the meaning of present pain for a Christian, and which phrases in the text make this clear?

Application questions

Where are you on the J-curve right now—descending, at the bottom, or starting to rise? What would trusting God look like this week in that exact spot? ([51:10])
Think of a situation where you were wronged. How could reframing it with “You meant evil… but God meant it for good” help you move from resentment toward forgiveness or even generosity? What is one first step you can take? ([48:04])
Are there any “chosen descents” you’re resisting—repentance to own, an apology to make, an enemy to bless, a person to serve who doesn’t deserve it? Name one concrete act of humble obedience you will do in the next 48 hours. ([01:01:18])
Where are you tempted to chase “up and to the right”—status, comfort, approval, control? What specific practice could help you embrace Jesus’ path of humility in that area this month? ([33:57])
When have you felt forgotten like Joseph—passed over, delayed, stuck? How will you pre-decide your response the next time delay hits (prayer, asking for help, serving where you are, gratitude)? Who will you tell for accountability? ([32:27])
Romans 8 says present sufferings aren’t worth comparing with future glory. How can you anchor that hope practically—Scripture memory, weekly gratitude, sharing stories of God’s faithfulness, serving someone in need—so it reshapes your week? ([01:02:29])
In a current conflict, what would it mean to say, “Am I in the place of God?” before you act or speak? Where do you need to release the role of judge and entrust the outcome to God this week? ([48:04])

Sermon Clips

Now, this J-shaped life is something that we see very often in a lot of these Old Testament heroes. Moses had a very J-shaped life. David, his life was very much J-shaped like this. Daniel, these Old Testament heroes, had lives that were characterized by suffering and difficulty and pain and struggle. But God used that suffering and that pain and that struggle to accomplish things in their life that they never imagined were possible. [00:53:26] (42 seconds) #SufferingWithPurpose

Now sometimes life has humbled us. That was Joseph's thing. Joseph didn't choose any of those things that happened to him. But sometimes our lives bring us to that point where we are at rock bottom. Other times, we need to bring ourselves there willingly. We need to choose that. And that begins with our repentance. To recognize that I've messed this up. I've gone so far off course, I don't even know which way is up, down, north, right, left. I am so lost on my own that I am in need of saving. That's humbling. That is humbling. But that is embarking on that J-shaped life. [00:59:40] (66 seconds) #RepentToRise

No amount of money, no amount of success, no amount of approval will ever be able to make right what is wrong with me. We must admit that we are in need of saving. Now sometimes that's the bottom of the curve. Other times it's not. Because we are then called to forgive those who have wronged us. That hurts. That is hard. That is humbling. We are called to love those who hate us. [01:00:52] (38 seconds) #HumbleAndForgiving

We are called to help those who don't deserve it. And if he doesn't come again first, then we too will face the same darkness of the valley of the shadow of death that Jesus did. To follow Jesus, friends, is not to have an easy life. But it is to have a J-shaped life. And to know that our lives may be difficult for a time. And it would often be easier for us if we were not following him. However, we are sharing in his J-shaped life both the difficult and also the wonderful. [01:01:35] (37 seconds) #JShapedDiscipleship

This right here, friends, is where we live. That is where we breathe. That is where we walk. We walk in the suffering, in the bottom of that J-curve. But we live in sure and certain hope that just as Jesus was raised from the dead and is glorified forever at the right hand of the Father, we will share in his glory. That is our hope. That the valley of the shadow of death, that the darkness of the prison that we find ourselves in, whatever happens down here, when we compare it to the glory that is to come, is nothing. His shadows. It is dust. It is fleeting. [01:03:36] (52 seconds) #SufferingWithHope

Joseph's story was J-shaped. And it was an echo and a shadow of the life that Jesus would live. Joseph's suffering was used to save everyone that he had ever loved. Jesus' suffering was used to save everyone that he loved. And we are invited to share in his glory. But we must share in our own way, in his humiliation. [01:04:28] (35 seconds) #GloryThroughHumility

But we can look at Joseph's story and remember that there wasn't a single day of that that was wasted. There wasn't a single tear of frustration or anger that God lost track of or didn't see. But every single bit of it was being used for good. It was intended for evil. It was intended by the sin of his brothers, by the schemes of the enemy, to harm him. But God used it for good. Unimaginable good. [01:05:17] (38 seconds) #NothingWastedByGod

Will you trust him in the middle of that valley? Will you trust him in the pit that your brothers threw you into? Will you trust him in the prison that you ended up in? Will you trust him when even your prisoner friends forget about you? Because if you will, if we will, then what we hope for is nothing less than the eternal weight of glory, eternal, being with God, healed and whole forever. forever. That is our hope. [01:06:35] (40 seconds) #TrustThroughTheValley

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