The dream that Joseph had was not an ordinary dream, but it was a foretelling of what would happen in the future. God, by His sovereignty, revealed to Joseph that he would be an instrument that someday he would save his family and the nation of Egypt from a severe famine. However, it was going to cost everything that he had, but in the end, God would restore him and become one of the greatest leaders in Egypt. When Joseph received his dream that all his family would bow down to him, he didn't know how it would happen. He continued with His life, but God started to work behind the scene. God would first empty Joseph of Himself, and when he was wholly surrendered to Him, then God would begin to lift Him up to be the leader that He wanted him to be.
His journey to become one of the greatest leaders of Egypt was not pleasant. When his father, Jacob, asked Joseph to find his brothers while they were pasturing their flocks to find out how they were doing, he went and looked for them. But when he found his brothers, he thought that they would welcome and respect him, but to his surprised, they seized him, threatened to kill him, and sold him to a passing Midianites caravan as a slave. The brothers then took his robe that his father gave him, soaked it with the blood of an animal to fake his death, and lied to their father. Joseph right then lost his freedom, and his father grieved for him, believing that he was dead. (Genesis 37:18-35).
We should not forget one thing no matter what is going on in this world: God is a sovereign God. He is in control. Humankind would do evil things against each other and even towards God, Himself, because of their sinful heart, but in the end, God will fulfill His purpose and plan in this world. When God allowed us to suffer, He is not trying to destroy us, but He may be allowing it to humble ourselves so that He can fulfill His purpose in our lives. Or it could be that He wants to reveal Himself to us in a very special way. God would often allow suffering to draw us closer to Him because when we are weak, He is strong in us as we trust in Him. So when we go through suffering, we can ask God this question: God, what are you teaching me in this suffering? Here is a song by Laura Story that helps us meditate on the purpose of suffering: https://youtu.be/Cd6J6Wgnv4M
Ask yourself these questions: Do I believe that God is a sovereign God? What are the reasons that God allows me to go through suffering? What should I do when I go through suffering?
Write down all the worries that you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in heaven, I admit that I don't like suffering, but I understand that you allow suffering to humble me and teach me something important about my relationship with you. You love me so much that you want my heart to always be drawn to you, and if my heart is not humble before you, I can easily wander away from you. Please keep me close to you and help me to trust you and surrender my life to you wholly. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.