I think maybe you and I can relate to Joseph (I mean the one from Genesis, not the one who married Mary, the mother of Jesus, although he’s a pretty cool dude, too).

He found himself in a fairly rotten situation. Sold into slavery by his own brothers. Ok, so he got a little cocky with the whole coat of many colors and maybe overshared with the whole “one day all of you will bow down to me” dreams. But he tried to do the right thing for the most part.

But I love the part where it says that God was with Joseph. That’s what stood out about him. Whether he was being sold in the slave market or running Potipher’s household or wasting away in a jail cell or ruling as one of Pharaoh’s top men, God was with him. It was obvious.

I love the fact that Joseph didn’t mess around when Potipher’s wife tried to seduce him. When “No” didn’t work, he got out of there. What really matters is that he didn’t wait until she made advances to decide how he would act. He was about pleasing God from the beginning. By the way, I picture Potipher’s wife looking like Anne Baxter from The Ten Commandments. Or maybe Angelina Jolie. Take your pick.

I also love the part where God’s favor was with Joseph. Not just when Joseph was in a good place or riding high on success. Even in a dark prison cell, God’s favor was with Joseph and God used Joseph to impact the lives of those around him.

I can relate to the fact that Joseph had a hard time forgiving his brothers. I would have, too. But in the end, he forgave them and took steps to reconcile with them.  That’s the important part.

My takeaway from Joseph’s life is that God can uses you no matter where you are. Just because you’re not in a good place doesn’t mean God isn’t with you or working in and through you. In the end, your story is about more than just you. Just as God used Joseph to save an entire nation, so God may use you to impact the lives of people you may never meet.

I love the fact that you don’t have to be a perfect saint with a spotless past for God to use you. You just have to be willing and available wherever you are.