THE JOURNEY OF FORGIVENESS
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”
Genesis 50:20 (NLT)
The story of Joseph is a powerful example of forgiveness and trust. The faith and forgiveness Joseph walked in not only allowed him to flourish in a foreign land—they kept him clever, earning him a position of power that led to saving thousands during a famine, including the very brothers who betrayed him.
Let’s slow down a bit. It’s easy to skip to the end when you already know the story.
As Jacob’s youngest and favored son, Joseph became the target of his brothers’ jealousy, which led them to sell him into slavery. Thirteen years passed before he would see them again, years marked by injustice, imprisonment and being forgotten. It’s not hard to imagine his struggle—once a cherished son, now a slave in a foreign land. How often did he wrestle with God? Did the Lord still see him? Why the injustice? Had both God and family abandoned him?
Yet the key to the powerful forgiveness at the end of Joseph’s story is that he didn’t give up on God, no matter the hardship, confusion or pain. We can assume there were moments of doubt, but Joseph wrestled with God instead of against Him. In the end, his trust was evident through forgiveness.
Everything God does is good, right and perfect. God isn’t the author of evil, but He restores and redeems, giving back a hundredfold what was lost. Joseph’s ability to forgive was rooted in deep confidence in God’s character, forged through years of waiting, wrestling and believing.
Forgiveness often takes time. It likely didn’t come for Joseph in the second year or even the seventh. But through every hardship, he stayed close to God. And over time, a heart of forgiveness was formed. The same is true for us. Healing doesn’t always happen quickly. But as we bring our pain to God and fix our eyes on Him, He does a deeper work in us. Whether it takes moments or years, we can rest in this: God is with us. He is faithful. His purposes are always greater than we can see.
APPLICATION: God doesn’t just model forgiveness; He walks with us through it. Today, take a quiet moment to ask Him where He might want to start—or continue—the work of forgiveness in your life. He’ll meet you with the grace and strength you need.
PRAYER: Father, I trust Your plan, regardless of what I can see right now. Teach me to trust and forgive. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?