When it all starts to Make Sense (Week 4 Sermon Recap)
There's a kind of pain we rarely talk about—not the pain of tragedy, but the pain of silence.
It's the ache that settles in when your prayers seem to hit the ceiling. When the breakthrough you've been waiting for doesn't come. When all you seem to be hearing from God is…nothing!
If you've ever felt that way, you're not alone; you have a friend in Joseph.
Genesis 41 opens with a brutal phrase: "Two full years later..." Two years of Joseph sitting in prison, forgotten. After faithfully interpreting dreams for Pharaoh's officials, after asking not to be forgotten, he was. Nothing changed. No rescue. Just silence.
But here's what Joseph's life teaches us: God's plans are greater than what we can see in the moment.
God's Timing Is Never Late
Pharaoh has two disturbing dreams that no one can interpret. That's when the cupbearer finally remembers Joseph!
But God's timing wasn't a second off. At the precise moment Pharaoh needed answers, Joseph was called up. What looked like a delay was actually preparation. God was setting the stage for something bigger.
Application: While you're waiting, God is working behind the scenes. Instead of focusing on what's not happening, focus on doing the next right thing in front of you. Use this season to grow in character, deepen your faith, and prepare for what's coming.
God's Wisdom Surpasses Our Understanding
Joseph tells Pharaoh something radical: "I can't interpret your dreams, but God can." He gives all credit to God and explains the dreams: seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine.
Joseph's God could do what Egypt's gods couldn't—provide real answers and real solutions.
Application: When you can't see the bigger picture, trust the One who can. Instead of trying to figure everything out, surrender your need to understand and lean into God's character. His wisdom is perfect even when His ways are mysterious.
God Opens Unexpected Doors
Pharaoh recognizes God's wisdom in Joseph and makes him second-in-command over all of Egypt. The forgotten prisoner becomes the nation's savior.
Application: Stay ready for God to move in unexpected ways. The very place where you feel stuck might be your launching pad. Be faithful in the small things now—God often uses our current circumstances to prepare us for future opportunities we can't even imagine.
God Redeems Our Pain with Purpose
Joseph doesn't just rise in power—he builds a new life. He marries and has two sons whose names tell the whole story:
Manasseh means "God has made me forget all my hardship."
Ephraim means "God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."
Joseph didn't deny his pain, but God transformed it into something beautiful.
Application: Don't rush past your healing process. Allow God to work in both areas—healing old wounds AND creating new fruit from your struggles. Your pain doesn't have to be wasted. God can use even your worst chapters to write something beautiful.
What About You?
How would you name the season you're in right now?
Are you in a Manasseh season, where God is slowly healing old wounds?
Are you in an Ephraim season, experiencing unexpected growth in a difficult place?
Or are you still waiting, wondering if God even sees you?
Wherever you are, here's the hope: God's plans are greater than what you can see in the moment.
His silence doesn't mean His absence. His delay doesn't mean His denial. He is with you—even in the waiting, even in the wondering. And He's working, always working, for your good and His glory.
