And the Lord was with Joseph: What God ’s hand can still do for you in times of affliction

Joseph is one of my favourite characters in the Bible.  Each time I read his story I discover a new truth about life with God.  Today I am going to share with you some of the truths that I came to discover as I read about Joseph's stay in Potiphar's house and in the royal dungeon.  These truths show us how God can bring help to us in out times of affliction.

Joseph's stay in Potiphar's house and in the royal dungeon was a time of affliction that he was forced to endure during his lifetime.  For Joseph to ensure the pain of enslavement and imprisonment for so long, he must have had a supernatural source of strength. I believe that this supernatural source of strength was the Lord's hand that rested upon his life.  But the Lord's hand did not just rest upon Joseph's life; the Lord's rested upon Joseph life and also brought to him some of the benefits that are associated with the Lord's hand.

So what are some of these benefits that are associated with the Lord's hand?  What are these benefits that can still accrue to us even in times of affliction?
 
FAVOR AND BLESSING

God does not stop blessing Joseph during his times of affliction.  If anything, I would reckon He added more blessings to his life. The blessing that was be upon Joseph's life attracted for him the favour of men and the favour of God.  Like in Joseph's case, God's hand can bring comfort to you in times of affliction by bringing favour and blessing upon your life.

PROMOTION
It is interesting to note that Joseph was promoted to a place of leadership both in Potiphar's house and in the royal dungeon.  This teaches us that God can still bring promotion to you even in times of affliction.
 
FLOW
The last thing I would like you to take note of today is that because God's hand was upon Joseph's life things ran smoothly for him both in Potiphar's house and in the royal dungeon.  Apart from the fact that he smoothly ran the affairs Potiphar's house and in the royal dungeon, he was at liberty while he was doing it – we can safely say that his life ran smoothly when we compare it with that of an ordinary person who may have found himself faced with the same predicament.  You too can expect to have a things running smoothly for you in times of affliction.

God's hand is at work in our lives all the time. Not only when things are good, but also when they get bad. So, do not despair. God is for you all the days of your life, even in your times of affliction.