T. G.

Trusting God


People who have spent time in prison talk about the mind-numbing effects of incarceration. Days slide into days, months into months, and an inmate’s perception of time and reality may become stunted. It is easy to lose motivation or the will to live without hope, a goal, something to work toward.

Such was not the case with Joseph in the Old Testament. If ever anyone had a reason to be bitter, it was Joseph. He did not even deserve to be in jail. Joseph could have allowed his frustration to deepen into resentment and then taken it out on his fellow prisoners and the guards. He could have made life miserable. Instead, Joseph chose to trust God.

Joseph understood that God’s plans for him extended beyond the negatives of the here and now; in faith he could look past the present pain, and as a result, God turned his circumstances into a beautiful testimony of His love and provision.

I trust You, Master! By faith, I look beyond the past and present, into the tremendous future You have planned for me. Turn my negative circumstances into a testimony of Your love and provision.



This is actually one of the devotionals that I did early last morning (still this morning for me, as I have not gone to bed yet).

Much here speaks to me…

“It is easy to lose motivation…without hope, a goal, something got work toward.”
- This is one reason that I cannot really say that the last six months have been a waste. Because, all throughout that time, I believed that I was following God’s will for my life. I had a plan, I had faith, and I had a hope for my future. In some ways, life was never better, even while I was going through a topsy-turvy and immensely painful period of time.
Now, though...now I need God's direction. If i do not get it, i will flounder and sink in life. I need hope; God, give me true hope, in the right things.
“…could have allowed his frustration to deepen into resentment…could have made life miserable.”
- Joseph could have responded with bitterness. With rage. With cursing. With resentment. He could have made the lives of those around him worse off. Instead, he tried his best to do his best in everything, and he hung on to his faith in Who God is. If Joseph could do it…why can’t I? It all starts with a right attitude, and a humble heart. Lord, give me both of those!

- I want my circumstances to be turned into something good. I want to respond well to the negative, so that God can trust me with the positive.


One thing I do not seem to be able to do right now, is answer the question “why?” Another thing that I cannot do, is figure out "what did I do wrong?" If you do not know what you did wrong, how can you make sure you do not repeat the mistake?

What now, Lord? Where do we go from here? What do I look to? What do I hope for? What do I believe for in prayer? Whose life do I affect positively for you? How do I move forward? How do I make my life worth something? How do I avoid the traps of self-pity and resentment and despair?

Lord…I still need You, perhaps now more than ever!