God Cares About You

By /
Speaker: Pastor
Series:

Finding God’s Presence in Life’s Prisons: Lessons from Joseph’s Story

Have you ever felt trapped in a situation that seemed hopeless? Maybe you’re there right now – struggling with a difficult relationship, a dead-end job, or a season of life that feels like it will never end. In times like these, it’s easy to wonder: Does God really care? Is He even there?

The story of Joseph in the Bible offers us a powerful reminder that God is always present, even in our darkest moments. Let’s explore how this truth can transform our perspective and empower us to live differently, no matter our circumstances.

God Is With Us, Even in the Pit

In Genesis 39-41, we find Joseph in what appears to be a hopeless situation. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and thrown into prison – Joseph had every reason to feel abandoned and bitter. Yet, we see a remarkable truth emerge:

“But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (Genesis 39:21).

As Pastor Dan points out, “What it didn’t mean, first of all, it didn’t mean that everything was just nice and easy in his life. In fact, oftentimes when we are in God’s plan, it is often surrounded by what we would say in our vernacular, bad circumstances.”

This powerful reminder challenges us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and recognize God’s presence, even when life feels unfair or difficult.

Living Differently When We Know God Cares

Knowing that God is with us and cares for us changes everything. Joseph’s story illustrates three ways we can live differently when we embrace this truth:

1. We Can Live for Others

Even in the midst of his own struggles, Joseph remained sensitive to the needs of others. When he noticed the cupbearer and baker were troubled, he asked, “Why are your faces downcast today?” (Genesis 40:7).

Pastor Dan notes, “When we know that God cares, and he has us in these difficult times for a reason, and he’s not caught off guard, and we can trust him, we can see the needs of others.”

2. We Can Speak Truth

Joseph didn’t hesitate to share both good news and bad news as he interpreted dreams. He recognized that the interpretations belonged to God, not himself.

“Sometimes, maybe oftentimes when our life isn’t going well, we struggle to share good news with others,” Pastor Dan observes. “But Joseph is able to share good news because it’s not about him. It’s about the God he serves, who he believes is close to him.”

3. We Can Depend on God

Throughout his ordeal, Joseph consistently pointed to God as the source of wisdom and interpretation. Even when given an opportunity for self-promotion before Pharaoh, Joseph declared, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer” (Genesis 41:16).

Pastor Dan reminds us, “We can’t depend on others and we can’t depend on ourselves. Ultimately, we must depend on the God who is close with us, the God who has no dependency on anyone else.”

Putting It Into Practice: Trusting God’s Care in Your Life

So how can we apply these lessons to our own lives? Here are some practical steps:

  1. Acknowledge your struggles: Be honest with God about your doubts and fears. As Pastor Dan suggests, “Don’t shy away from pretending like you’re having more faith in God’s plan than share with them your heart. God, I am struggling to believe that you care right now. Would you help my unbelief?”
  2. Remember God’s past faithfulness: Reflect on times when God has shown His care for you, especially in your salvation. “Go back to what he’s done in your salvation. Go back to who you were before he came into your life,” Pastor Dan advises.
  3. Look for opportunities to serve others: Even in your own difficult season, ask God to help you see and meet the needs of those around you.
  4. Speak truth with confidence: Share the hope you have in Christ, both the encouraging and challenging aspects, trusting that God’s word is powerful.
  5. Practice dependence on God: In every situation, big or small, consciously choose to rely on God’s wisdom and strength rather than your own abilities or the approval of others.

Remember, just as God was working out a bigger plan through Joseph’s life, He is also at work in your story. As Pastor Dan concludes, “What is God doing in your life? And what is God doing in mine? … The reality is, I hope as we look at these passages, as we’ve gone through them, I hope that you’d see one, that you would see that God cares about you. He’s not taken off guard by what happens.”

May we, like Joseph, learn to trust in God’s presence and care, even when life doesn’t make sense. For in doing so, we open ourselves up to experience His power working through us in ways we never imagined possible.

We hope you enjoyed the sermon and would love to see you in person. Plan your visit to Community Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee today!

Plan A Visit
Scroll to Top