“God never said the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.” Max Lucado

Joseph had a dream that one day his entire family, including his parents, would bow down to him. As Joseph was not the firstborn, this would not come about through any natural succession.

So, if this dream was from God, it would have to come from another direction. And oh boy, what a direction (Gen. 37-50) that would be!

First, his bothers sold him into slavery and faked his death. Then he passed a seduction test, only to be thrown into prison. Finally, he does a favor for someone who could get him out of prison only to languish in prison for another two years.

Scripture says that the LORD was with him, but did Joseph see slavery, imprisonment and betrayal as something that God was using to fulfill his dream?

We possibly see a glimpse of understanding God’s perspective with the naming of his children. But we know with 100% certainty that he got it when he tells his brothers, “You meant it for evil, but God used it for good to save our family and many others.”

Joseph didn’t have God’s perspective until the end of his ordeal. He went through the unfairness of life to reach the point where God’s purpose did come true. It most likely didn’t happened as he would have wanted, but it did come about.

Perspective informs perception. The way you think will be the bases for how you interpret life as it unfolds. Perspective: God is in control, despite what others do or don’t do. Perception: life may seem out of control and/or unfair, but I can still praise God in the midst of it because He will work all things out for His good in my life in the end.

How you interpret life starts with your perspective. Does Jesus owe you anything, or do you owe Him everything? The more your perspective lines up with God’s Word, the greater you’ll be fulfilled despite life’s disappointments.