And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT
When you look back at your life, you might see detours, heartbreaks, or poor choices. Yet, God does not waste a single tear or a single trial. He takes the raw material of your life experiences and redeems it. Even what was meant to derail you becomes a powerful testimony of transformation and mercy.
The story of Joseph in Genesis 37–50 is one of the most powerful passages showing how God uses life experiences for good. There are terrible experiences and wonderful experiences in his story. Joseph was deeply loved by his father, but was rejected and sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. He rose to favor with his master, then was falsely accused and thrown into prison. There he remained faithful and was able to interpret dreams. This eventually brought him to the attention of the Pharoah. As a result, he was elevated to the ruler of Egypt and he saved nations and his own family from famine.
Joseph experienced betrayal, isolation, and unjust treatment. But God used these extremely difficult circumstances to develop his leadership and character. Joseph realized God was with him all the way through and remained faithful. God positioned him to save his entire family. In fact, Joseph’s ultimate takeaway was this: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20 ESV).
The original Hebrew in which this was written helps us. The same verb – chashab – is used twice in a single sentence with two completely opposite intentions: The human intent of his brothers was evil: "You meant (chashab) evil against me ..." But Joseph’s almighty Father overruled that. God’s divine intent was plain: "... but God meant (chashab) it for good." Chashab means to weave, calculate, or invent. Joseph's brothers wove a dark trap of betrayal, jealousy, and hatred. Yet, God took those exact same evil threads and re-wove them into a masterpiece of good. That’s one of His specialties. He didn’t just fix a bad situation; He repurposed the enemy's raw materials. He wrote the “hopeless” parts of the story and made them useful and good.
- Joseph realized that his God-sized story was to be used to save many people. The same is true for you and me. Our story is not just for us. God does not write wonderful stories for us to feel comfortable and look good. He wants to use our story for others. How can your story be a lifeline, a tool for rescue, for others?