Day 20

Genesis 39–40 | Mark 8:31–9:13

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

My wife is a therapist, and long before we married, she taught me something she still shares with her clients: When you use the word “but,” it essentially erases everything that came before it. What follows is what truly matters. That insight hits differently when I read verses like Genesis 39:21.

Joseph’s story was filled with hardship. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and thrown into prison—his circumstances seemed hopeless. But the Lord was with Joseph. That changes everything. God’s presence didn’t remove the suffering, but it redefined it. He was working in the waiting, preparing Joseph for something far greater than he could see.

And thank God for the ‘but’ moments—because I need them every day. When I fail, when I struggle, when life doesn’t make sense, I need to know that my story doesn’t end there. God, in His mercy, steps in and rewrites what seemed lost.

In Mark 8, Jesus gives us the ultimate but moment. He tells His disciples that He must suffer, be rejected, and die—but after three days, rise again (Mark 8:31). The cross wasn’t the end. The grave didn’t win. What looked like the greatest defeat was actually the means of our redemption.

Joseph’s life didn’t change overnight. Years passed in the shadows before God’s plan was fully revealed. But even in prison, God was with him, working for His glory and Joseph’s good. It’s the same for us. When we place our trust in Christ, He doesn’t just forgive—He redeems, transforms, and brings beauty from brokenness.

Lord, thank You for being the God who rewrites the story. When I can’t see the full picture, remind me that Your purposes never fail. Give me the faith to trust in Your presence and walk in obedience, knowing You are always working for good. Amen.