Genesis 39:1-23
Joseph’s story in Genesis 39 is a story of circumstances he could not control. He didn’t choose to be sold into slavery. He didn’t choose the household he was brought into. He didn’t choose the accusations made against him or the prison where he ended up.
And yet, in the midst of all that he could not control, Joseph still had choices to make. He could choose how he treated others. He could choose whether or not to act with integrity. He could choose what kind of person he would be.
We often spend a great deal of energy trying to control things that are just beyond us. We worry about what someone else will do, how a situation will turn out, or why something is happening in the first place. Sometimes the more we try to control these things, the more overwhelmed we become.
A different question can help us find our way:
“What is mine to do?”
Not: How can I fix everything? Not: How can I control the outcome? Simply: What is mine to do?
Sometimes the answer is to speak. Sometimes it’s to listen. Sometimes it’s to act. Sometimes it is to wait, rest, ask for help, or let something go.
For this week’s practice, when you find yourself facing something difficult or uncertain, pause and take a breath.
Name what is happening, then ask:
“God, what is mine to do?”
Don’t try to solve the whole situation. Instead, pay attention to the next faithful step that is within your control. Then take that step.
You may not be able to change the circumstances around you, but you can choose how you will move through them. And sometimes, that is where faith begins.
Let’s pray:
God, when life feels beyond our control, help us release what is not ours to carry. Give us wisdom to know what is ours to do, courage to do it faithfully, and peace to leave the rest in your hands. Walk with us in whatever circumstances we face, and help us trust that we do not walk alone. Amen.