For two years, Joseph was forgotten and forsaken in an Egyptian prison for a crime he didn’t commit. That was after serving as a slave for eleven years. And that was after being sold into slavery by his brothers (who were planning on killing him).

With all that Joseph has gone through up to this point, the temptation to feel forgotten and forsaken would be strong. But God didn’t forsake or forget about Joseph. He was using the twists and turns and ups and downs in Joseph’s life to prepare him for what would come next.

God knew Joseph–and God knows us. He knows that “…tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-5). Like Joseph, we need to be willing to endure the greatness of God’s plan of preparation. Because, just like Joseph, we don’t know what God has around the next twist and turn. And when you look back and see pain and misery, your mind can wander to wondering if you have been forgotten and forsaken.

Instead, we can look ahead full of faith to endure the seasons of preparation God knows we need for what’s coming next. He is preparing us for something so much great that what’s about to happen to Joseph.