This week we’ll be focusing on our purpose through the lens of living as a child of God. When we see Him as Father and ourselves as His children, then all of life—relationships, parenting, career, everything—filters and funnels through that relationship to create a higher purpose for all we are and all we do.

Throughout this week, we’ll be reading from the life of Joseph, one of the most compelling and incredible stories in Scripture. Every time life dealt Joseph a tragic and challenging hand, God came through to redeem and restore Joseph’s life. Our prayer is that you would view yourself as a modern-day Joseph—that no matter what has or will happen, God will be at work on your behalf for your good.

When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father’s flocks. He worked for his half brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah. But Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing. Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him. (Genesis 37:2-4 NLT)

Now, fast-forward to Joseph being sent by his dad to check on his brothers who were working in the field …

When Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing. Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it. Then, just as they were sitting down to eat, they looked up and saw a caravan of camels in the distance coming toward them. It was a group of Ishmaelite traders … Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime.  Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders. After all, he is our brother—our own flesh and blood!” And his brothers agreed. So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt. (Genesis 37:23-28 NLT)

Do you have a memory in your own life that this story triggered for you? Something tragic? Betrayal? An injustice?

While this story is painful to hear, the bottom line is we all understand family dysfunction that causes pain and creates scars that we have to deal with for a long time. But these events in our lives offer us a choice: will I let this define me or will I allow this to become a defining moment?

Your relationship with God can bring purpose to create a greater, stronger you out of any circumstance. But for this to happen, the pain and the process has to be surrendered to God and then stay submitted to Him on the journey to wholeness and healing.

Let’s pray: “Father, thank You for providing examples in Scripture that show me how to navigate the tragedies of life through You. Right now, I surrender my hurts, my pain, and my process of healing to You. Use it all—the good and bad—to bring me a greater sense of purpose about my life, as You lead me. As above, so below.”