I’ve had the privilege of meeting several well-known Christian authors and speakers over the years, and whenever I have the opportunity, I ask the same question:
“How did your ministry get started?”
The reason is simple—I want to know the secret. I want the formula. I want to understand how God took them from obscurity to influence.
Surprisingly, their answers have been remarkably similar.
Each one has said something along the lines of, “I finally stopped trying to make it happen.”
When I asked them to explain, they shared stories of striving, networking, promoting themselves, and working tirelessly to gain recognition—only to become discouraged and frustrated. Their breakthrough didn’t come through self-promotion. It came through faithfully serving God where He had placed them and trusting Him with the results.
Eventually, someone noticed.
Joseph understood this principle better than most.
For years, he faithfully served as a slave and later as a prisoner. Though God had given him dreams of leadership and influence, there seemed to be no path to their fulfillment. He couldn’t force the outcome. He couldn’t open the right doors. All he could do was remain faithful where he was.
We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.” In Joseph’s case, it wasn’t even who he knew—it was who knew him.
When Pharaoh was troubled by a dream no one could interpret, Joseph’s former cellmate remembered him. In a single day, God used that connection to move Joseph from a prison cell to the palace. He went from forgotten prisoner to second-in-command over all of Egypt.
God didn’t need Joseph to create the opportunity. He simply needed Joseph to be ready when the opportunity arrived.
Four Lessons from Joseph’s Journey
1. Realize it isn’t about you.
As a slave and prisoner, Joseph had no ability to control his future. He was completely dependent on God. The truth is, we are too. While we may have more freedom than Joseph did, we cannot manufacture God’s plan through our own efforts.
2. Be faithful where you are today.
It’s easy to become consumed with future dreams and frustrated by present circumstances. Instead, focus on the opportunities God has placed in front of you right now. Faithfulness in the small things often prepares us for greater things.
3. Surrender your dream back to God.
If God gave you the dream, you can trust Him with it. Release your timetable, your expectations, and your need to control the outcome. Allow Him to accomplish His purposes in His way.
4. Trust God’s timing.
Joseph spent years waiting, but God was never late. At the exact moment Pharaoh needed someone with Joseph’s gifts, God orchestrated the meeting. When the time is right, God knows how to bring the right people into your life.
I haven’t yet reached every dream God has placed in my heart. However, I’ve seen Him move in remarkable ways as I’ve learned to follow Joseph’s example. Every significant step forward has come not from striving harder, but from serving faithfully and trusting God to open doors I could never open myself.
As you pursue the dreams God has given you, consider these questions:
- What need has God uniquely created you to fill?
- Who is watching your faithfulness today?
- What would others say about your character and service if God opened a door tomorrow?
- Are you prepared for the opportunity God may already be arranging?
Your job is not to become noticed. Your job is to remain faithful.
God knows how to bring a Pharaoh into your story when the time is right.
Additional Resource
The Blueprint for Life is an eight-week study designed to help you discover and pursue the life God created you to live by focusing on five key areas:
- Spiritual
- Relational
- Physical
- Financial
- Career
The study contains a companion guide and ten audio messages featuring Andy Stanley, Louie Giglio, Tony Evans, John Maxwell and others. Click here to check it out!
