A Positive Pit Experience

Have you ever found yourself in a pit so-to-speak. You are in a difficult situation and you realistically see no way out. Maybe you even ended up there by mistake or by false accusation. Never-the-less you are where you are and you want out! But there is no way out, there seems to be no hope.

As I mentioned last week I am reading through the story of Joseph and the roller coaster ride of a life he lived. This morning I was in Genesis 39 where Potiphar's wife falsely accused Joseph of trying to rape her. Potipher, it appears, did not ask Joseph if this was true or not he just had him thrown into prison or as it was also called the pit.

We don't know exactly how long Joseph was in prison but based on Genesis 41:1 we know that Joseph was in prison at least two years. Two or more years in prison for something he did not do. Surely he had a right to be angry, surely he had a right to ask God "What are you doing up there, have you forgotten me in the pit?" Have you ever been there, feeling as though God has gotten too busy with other things to know where you are and what you are going through? Let's take a look at a passage to see what happened and how Joseph responded to this grave injustice:

Genesis 39: 19-23 - 19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

God was right there with Joseph in the pit. God showed Joseph that he was not alone. As a result of this Joseph used the gift God gave him to help those around him in the pit. The warden seems to have turned the internal workings of the prison over to one of the inmates. If you find yourself in a pit are you having a pity party, a woe is me moment? Or are you digging deeper into God's word looking for him, seeking fellowship with him? Are you trying to use the gifts God gave you to serve others right where you are? Do you truly believe that God is in complete control of your situation and he has you where you are for a specific purpose?

If you find yourself in the pit, seek God through his word and through prayer and look for ways to server others right where you are. God has not forgotten you, he has you where you are for a purpose. Don't miss it!