The Trouble with Circumstances - Devotional by Kathy Cheek

Today, I fought discouragement because I looked at me – instead of God.

I looked at my circumstances instead of looking at Him. But then, I fixed my gaze on Him and by the time evening fell – discouragement had also fallen away.

Looking at our difficult circumstances can often get us into trouble. When we examine what is going on around us, it is easy to think this is bad, this is messed up, and there is no way this can be resolved. The best attitude we can have is to be grateful God can work in any situation! Nothing is too big or too hard for Him, and we don’t have to face any difficult situation alone.

One of the greatest examples in the Bible of more going on than what is seen in the circumstances of a situation is the story of Joseph. His brothers plotted to murder him, but instead of killing him, they put him in a pit, then decided to sell him to slave traders. You know the rest of the story—he ends up falsely imprisoned for years. Now this is a long string of difficult circumstances. Yet, if you read the story in Genesis from chapter 37 to 50, you will repeatedly read that God’s good hand of favor was on Joseph through it all.

You will also read how God delivered Joseph from prison and promoted him to the second in power in the land of Egypt. At God’s prompting, Joseph wisely stores food and prepares for the coming famine. He reunites with his family, and we see the most beautiful aspect of all in this story that has spanned many years of Joseph’s life. Joseph forgives his brothers. What is most remembered and greatly emphasized from this passage is Joseph’s statement to his brothers in Genesis 50.

Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

Joseph’s story, as with many others in the Bible, demonstrates to us that God is always working in those things we cannot see…yet. God is working in and through bad circumstances…for good.

Take your eyes off the circumstance and look at God because the circumstance can be overwhelming, until you remind yourself again who God is and who you are in Him.