Life got you down? Grab a snickers...or read this.

After my last post I was reading Genesis with my middle school guys during our morning T.A.G. time (Time Alone with God). As I read through Joseph's story I thought, "Wow! What a story of hope for people my age." and so here I sit to tell you a little about what I see in Joseph's story.

Joseph's life growing up was pretty typical. He had a father and mother who loved him; several brothers who gave him a hard time; and most everything he could ask for. After being given a cloak of many colors by his father, his brothers become jealous and sell him into slavery. Joseph is a young man at this point and unlike me or many of the people I know at that age he doesn't let this serious setback stop him from fulfilling God's plan for his life. Instead he takes his God given abilities, works hard where he is at (even if it wasn't where he wanted to be) and achieves great success becoming the overseer of Potiphar's house.

But, calamity strikes Joseph again as he is pursued relentlessly by Potiphar's wife. I like to compare this time of Joseph's life like the present day college experience. We grow up with our parents providing for us, get to college and are doing well because of our God given abilities, and then the temptations start pouring on. Joseph is strong enough to persevere in the face of these trials but is still thrown in jail! Maybe you are in this same position. You've worked hard during college making good grades, staying away from distractions (at least for the most part!), and yet you find yourself with a degree and no job. You feel imprisoned by your loans and the fact that everything isn't working out the way you had planned.

What is Joseph's response to this unfair treatment? He continues to use and strengthen his God given abilities where he is at and before long is put in charge of all the prisoners. Even in your "prison moment" you can continue to develop your God given abilities and skills and serve God in whatever way possible where you are. If Joseph hadn't done this imagine how miserable he would have been because he spent over 2 years in prison! But these were not wasted years because of the preparation and faithfulness to God that Joseph had he was ready when he was called on by non other than Pharaoh himself. After interpreting Pharaoh's dream Joseph was made second in command of all of Egypt at the age of 30!

Think about what it would be like to not have a job from now till you were 30 and then become the CFO or COO of Wal-Mart or Exxon. This is what Joseph was experiencing and I doubt he ever imagined that was where he would be as he sat in prison helping those around him for over 2 years. So why did Joseph always seem to succeed even in the most hopeless of situations?

• Joseph had a close relationship with God and sought his wisdom in all things, while remaining faithful to him despite his unfair breaks in life.
• Joseph put 100% into every position he was given. It didn't matter if it was overseer of Potiphar's house or head of the prisoners.
• Joseph never gave up hope no matter what the circumstances.
• Joseph helped and served those around him even if they had nothing they could do for him in return.

Remember Joseph's story and example as you live the next few years of your life. Have faith in God and know that he has a plan for you even when you are in the prison and life seems hopeless.