Uniquely Qualified

Joseph had gone from being a spoiled young man to running an estate to being in prison to becoming the second most powerful person in the world, in charge of Egypt’s food supply.

A famine had struck the land, and Joseph’s brothers traveled from Canaan to Egypt to buy food. Egypt was the only place that had food because God had given Joseph the ability to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. As a result, Joseph warned Pharaoh to prepare for the future.

When Joseph’s brothers arrived, they didn’t recognize him, but he recognized them. And when Joseph eventually revealed his identity, his brothers thought they were dead men.

But Joseph told them, “Don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. . . . God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors” (Genesis 45:5, 7 NLT).

God can and will use the experiences of your life to help other people. Since our son Christopher went to be with the Lord, I’ve had a new ministry that I never asked for—and frankly never wanted. I’m often ministering to people who have lost loved ones, especially children.

I don’t have all the answers for them, but I point them to Jesus. And I share some of the things that I’ve learned in this process. I’ve found that it actually helps me as I help them.

The apostle Paul wrote, “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT).

God can take what you’ve gone through in life and use it for His glory.