From the Pit to the Palace: 4 Biblical Ways to Bloom Where You Are Planted

The words took my breath away.

Literally.

I was mindlessly rushing through my morning activities when I reached for my phone. Out of habit, I skimmed a few Facebook posts, made a polite response or two then noticed a text from my daughter.

Smile. “I wonder what she’s up to?”

Cue screech!

Her words stopped me in my tracks…

The messenger was my daughter but the One who sent the message had finally captured my full attention.  

Could this arid and desolate place I have languished for the last several weeks be right where God has purposed me to be?

I call it the ‘pit’. You may be familiar.  It is a dark and lonely place that calls out to you. Not with comfort but with taunts, jeers and accusations that bruise and batter your heart, mind and soul. I tripped, and fell headlong into the miry pit – again. But on this particular day, my pity party in the pit was interrupted.

Bloom?

As I grappled with this thought, I remembered Joseph – the son of Jacob who endured incredible pain and suffering in his journey from the ‘pit’ to  the ‘palace’. (Genesis 37-41) How did he overcome his circumstances to bloom where he was planted? And how might I do the same?

I gleaned four key truths from the text that helped me shift my thoughts from the pit of my habitation toward the palace prepared for me.

1. Choose to BELIEVE God

The narrative of Joseph begins in chapter 37 of Genesis. Joseph was Daddy’s favourite (v.3) and because of this, his brothers despised him. At the age of seventeen, Joseph had two dreams that caused his brothers to hate him even more (v.5) and garnered a reprimand from his father “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” (v.10)

Oh the dream. On one hand a sure promise from God of a prosperous future. And on the other hand, the fuel that ignited the brother’s plot to kill the dreamer and the dream.

As the narrative unfolds, we learn Joseph is thrown in a pit, stripped of his multicoloured robe, given no food, no water, and abandoned for dead.

After a little persuasion, the brothers decide to profit from this misadventure and instead sell Joseph to passing Ishmaelite merchants for 20 shekels of silver. Once in Egypt, Joseph is sold as a slave to Potipher, the Captain of the guard.  

WHEW!

Truly, I am amazed by young Joseph. How did he survive this ordeal? One day he is obeying his father’s request to check on the welfare of his brothers and the flocks and the next day he is enslaved in Egypt.

I admit, this is where I usually get stuck…

WHY?… Why Lord?…WHY?

And perhaps Joseph cried out with these questions too but it is clear he decided not to stay there.

In his darkest moments, Joseph held on to the dream given to him by God. Although Joseph did not understand why he was suffering so deeply, the promise guarded the hope that carried him through.

Is there a dream God has given you? Something that He has made so very clear in your heart and mind that there can be no doubt of the promise?

Dear friend, choose to believe God despite what you may be going through or what you might see. God has given you the dream in advance so you might be strengthened like Joseph to persevere in the midst of your trial.

2. Draw Close to God

While in the household of Potipher we are told “the Lord was with Joseph”(Gen 39:2,3,21). And as readers of this account, we are apt to take this truth for granted.  But don’t miss it – how did Joseph know the Lord was with him while in the middle of the muck?

Isolated from his father and mother and all that he had ever known, Joseph fixed his eyes heavenward.

I believe through prayer, praise and gratitude, Joseph heard God and was able to recognize His presence even in his affliction. As Joseph submitted to Potipher as unto God, “the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand.” (Gen 39:3)

How often do we miss the fingerprint of God in our lives because we are not in a posture to observe His presence? We are distracted by our own pain, disappointment or desires to truly rest in His presence and breathe in His goodness.

But Joseph knew the “LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for [his] sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field.” (Gen 39:5b).

So like Joseph, let us become more aware. Let us approach each day as a new day to practice the presence of God. To draw close to Him through prayer, praise and thanksgiving and to allow His words of truth to strengthen us in our difficulties –

“never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Heb 13:15)  

“Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you…” (Isaiah 43:4-5a)

3. Trust God with your circumstances

Things were looking good for Joseph. He was adjusting well in his new reality and had become quite successful. Potipher “made [Joseph] overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.” (Gen 39:4)

But then it happened. His world turned upside down in an instant… again.

In his refusal to accept the sexual advances of Potipher’s wife and sin against his God, Joseph was remanded to the King’s prison. The proverbial ‘pit’.

And here once more is where I get stuck…

WHY?… Why Lord?…WHY?

But the narrative does not describe Joseph languishing in the pit. Instead we learn in the next verse “the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison” (Gen 39:22)and “he did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did the LORD made it prosper.” (Gen 39:23)

Although he was unjustly accused and falsely imprisoned, Joseph remained steadfast in faith, trusting his circumstances to the One in whom he believed. And like the Psalmist, he could say –

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” (Psalm 143:8-12)

And we too can declare the same. In the middle of our muddle, we can believe God, draw close to Him and trust Him with our circumstances because He is faithful.

4. Serve others even in your affliction

When we are at our lowest, we cannot imagine being of help to anyone. But it is from our humble estate that we connect with the felt needs of others with greater empathy and compassion. And as we help others we ourselves are helped.

Joseph perceived the sorrowful disposition of the Butler and the Baker who were also confined in prison. They were deeply troubled by their respective dreams so Joseph sought to help them – “do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please” (Gen 40:8)

And here, in the middle of the ordinary, the extraordinary plans of God begin to unfold. The dreams foretold two very different outcomes – the Butler would be restored to his former position but the Baker – well… ouch.  

And while it took two more years to manifest, Joseph’s steadfastness to believe God, draw close to God, trust God no matter what and serve others while in the ‘pit’ brought him before the King. In God’s timing, Joseph was exalted to a position of honour in the Palace and Kingdom as God’s chosen vessel to save the lives of many.

Who doesn’t love a great comeback story?  I rejoice with Joseph anew everytime I read it.

Joseph bloomed where he was planted. And from the pages of this narrative we have been given the keys to do the same.  

Epilogue

Since that fateful morning several weeks ago when I was stopped in my tracks with a timely word, I have practised these principles – albeit imperfectly. Even so, I am thrilled to report precious buds are blooming!

Have you been there too? How have you changed your perspective to bloom right where you are? Share your comments, I’d love to hear from you!