When people around us make the wrong decisions, God can turn the situation around so things work in our favour and in accordance with His plan. So when things go wrong, instead of trying to find someone to blame, let’s turn our attention to looking for God’s hand at work. Joseph’s brothers made a wrong decision by resenting him. Potiphar’s wife made a wrong decision by falsely accusing him. And the butler made a wrong decision by turning his back on him. But God arranged every step Joseph took, all the way to him becoming the pharaoh’s highest official. After years apart, Joseph stood face-to-face with the brothers who had treated him so badly, and said, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good’ (Genesis 50:20 NIV). Joseph discovered three things through his experience, which we can also take on board: 1) When God wants you in a palace, nobody can keep you in a prison. 2) Your future isn’t in the hands of others; it’s in the hands of God. 3) Your God-given assignment in life doesn’t require the cooperation or approval of everyone, but it does need the cooperation of one person – you. God’s purposes will eventually overcome human plans. No one can stop God using us, blessing us, and giving us success – except ourselves. So let’s keep our hearts and our attitudes right. The Message paraphrases Paul’s words, ‘Long before we first heard of Christ…he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone’ (Ephesians 1:11-12 MSG). So let’s look for the hand of God in everything – even when things look impossible or unfixable to us, He’ll make it work.

What Now?

Take some time to thank God that other people’s mistakes, opinions and intentions can’t derail His plan for you.