But God... - pt 3
"Watching God Work”
( Genesis 50:15-21 )
Sunday, April 12, 2026
5-Day Devotional: When Others Mean Evil, God Means Good
( Click to Download )
( Click to Download )
Day 1: The Sovereignty of God in Our Struggles
Reading: Genesis 50:15-21
Devotional: Joseph's declaration—"You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good"—reveals a profound truth about God's sovereignty. When people act with evil intent toward us, God isn't surprised or powerless. He weaves even the darkest threads into His redemptive tapestry. Joseph endured betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and imprisonment, yet God was orchestrating something far greater than Joseph's immediate comfort. God was preserving a nation and keeping His covenant promise.
Today, consider what painful circumstances you're facing. Are you limiting God by focusing only on the immediate hurt? Remember, God is writing your complete story, not just this difficult chapter. His sovereignty doesn't eliminate pain, but it does guarantee purpose.
Reflection: What situation in your life needs to be viewed through the lens of God's sovereignty rather than human intention?
Reading: Genesis 50:15-21
Devotional: Joseph's declaration—"You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good"—reveals a profound truth about God's sovereignty. When people act with evil intent toward us, God isn't surprised or powerless. He weaves even the darkest threads into His redemptive tapestry. Joseph endured betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and imprisonment, yet God was orchestrating something far greater than Joseph's immediate comfort. God was preserving a nation and keeping His covenant promise.
Today, consider what painful circumstances you're facing. Are you limiting God by focusing only on the immediate hurt? Remember, God is writing your complete story, not just this difficult chapter. His sovereignty doesn't eliminate pain, but it does guarantee purpose.
Reflection: What situation in your life needs to be viewed through the lens of God's sovereignty rather than human intention?
Day 2: The Power of Forgiveness to Set Us Free
Reading: Matthew 18:21-35
Devotional: Joseph had already forgiven his brothers before he saw them again. He didn't wait for an apology or for them to deserve it. Forgiveness freed Joseph from being chained to his painful past, allowing him to flourish in God's purpose. When we withhold forgiveness, we remain tethered to the moment of betrayal, unable to move forward into what God has for us.
Forgiveness isn't about excusing evil or pretending harm didn't occur. It's about releasing the debt others owe us into God's hands, trusting His justice and mercy. This act liberates us from bitterness and opens our hearts to experience God's healing presence. Unforgiveness keeps us in the prison long after the door has been unlocked.
Reflection: Who do you need to forgive today, not for their benefit, but for your own freedom?
Reading: Matthew 18:21-35
Devotional: Joseph had already forgiven his brothers before he saw them again. He didn't wait for an apology or for them to deserve it. Forgiveness freed Joseph from being chained to his painful past, allowing him to flourish in God's purpose. When we withhold forgiveness, we remain tethered to the moment of betrayal, unable to move forward into what God has for us.
Forgiveness isn't about excusing evil or pretending harm didn't occur. It's about releasing the debt others owe us into God's hands, trusting His justice and mercy. This act liberates us from bitterness and opens our hearts to experience God's healing presence. Unforgiveness keeps us in the prison long after the door has been unlocked.
Reflection: Who do you need to forgive today, not for their benefit, but for your own freedom?
Day 3: God's Strength in Our Weakness
Reading: Habakkuk 3:17-19
Devotional: "The Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights." When we feel depleted, overwhelmed, or inadequate, we often forget that our strength isn't meant to come from ourselves. God's well is deep and never runs dry. We can draw from Him constantly, even when our own resources are exhausted.
Too often we confuse activity for God with intimacy with God. Preparation for ministry isn't the same as personal communion with Jesus. When we sit at His feet simply to be filled rather than to perform, we find renewal. God doesn't just give us strength for the mountain—He enables us to walk confidently on the heights, transforming impossibilities into pathways of faith.
Reflection: Are you trying to operate in your own strength? What would it look like to draw deeply from God's well today?
Reading: Habakkuk 3:17-19
Devotional: "The Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights." When we feel depleted, overwhelmed, or inadequate, we often forget that our strength isn't meant to come from ourselves. God's well is deep and never runs dry. We can draw from Him constantly, even when our own resources are exhausted.
Too often we confuse activity for God with intimacy with God. Preparation for ministry isn't the same as personal communion with Jesus. When we sit at His feet simply to be filled rather than to perform, we find renewal. God doesn't just give us strength for the mountain—He enables us to walk confidently on the heights, transforming impossibilities into pathways of faith.
Reflection: Are you trying to operate in your own strength? What would it look like to draw deeply from God's well today?
Day 4: God's Presence in the Pit
Reading: Psalm 139:7-12
Devotional: Joseph's journey took him from the pit to the prison before leading to the palace. In each location, God was present. Whether in Potiphar's house, the depths of the cistern, or the darkness of prison, God never abandoned Joseph. The same is true for you. There is nowhere you can go—no pit deep enough, no prison dark enough—where God's presence cannot reach you.
Sometimes we must go through difficult moments, through pits and prisons, to end up in the position God wants us in. God isn't absent in your suffering; He's actively working, preparing, and positioning you. The pit isn't the end of your story—it's often the beginning of God's greatest work. Trust that He sees you, knows your circumstances, and has not forgotten His promises.
Reflection: Where do you feel abandoned by God right now? Can you trust His presence even when you can't see His purpose?
Reading: Psalm 139:7-12
Devotional: Joseph's journey took him from the pit to the prison before leading to the palace. In each location, God was present. Whether in Potiphar's house, the depths of the cistern, or the darkness of prison, God never abandoned Joseph. The same is true for you. There is nowhere you can go—no pit deep enough, no prison dark enough—where God's presence cannot reach you.
Sometimes we must go through difficult moments, through pits and prisons, to end up in the position God wants us in. God isn't absent in your suffering; He's actively working, preparing, and positioning you. The pit isn't the end of your story—it's often the beginning of God's greatest work. Trust that He sees you, knows your circumstances, and has not forgotten His promises.
Reflection: Where do you feel abandoned by God right now? Can you trust His presence even when you can't see His purpose?
Day 5: The Reckless Love That Chases Us Down
Reading: Romans 8:35-39
Devotional: Nothing can separate us from God's love—not tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword. God's love isn't passive; it's active, pursuing, relentless. It chases us down, fights until we're found, and refuses to let us go. This is the reckless love that climbs every mountain, lights every shadow, and kicks down every wall between us and God.
When others mean evil against us, when circumstances seem overwhelming, when we question why bad things happen, God's unchanging love remains our anchor. We couldn't earn it and don't deserve it, yet He gives Himself away freely. This love transforms our perspective from "Why me?" to "God is with me." His love doesn't eliminate suffering, but it does guarantee we never suffer alone.
Reflection: How does knowing God's relentless love change how you view your current struggles?
Reading: Romans 8:35-39
Devotional: Nothing can separate us from God's love—not tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword. God's love isn't passive; it's active, pursuing, relentless. It chases us down, fights until we're found, and refuses to let us go. This is the reckless love that climbs every mountain, lights every shadow, and kicks down every wall between us and God.
When others mean evil against us, when circumstances seem overwhelming, when we question why bad things happen, God's unchanging love remains our anchor. We couldn't earn it and don't deserve it, yet He gives Himself away freely. This love transforms our perspective from "Why me?" to "God is with me." His love doesn't eliminate suffering, but it does guarantee we never suffer alone.
Reflection: How does knowing God's relentless love change how you view your current struggles?
Closing Prayer: Father, thank You that what others intend for evil, You work for good. Help us trust Your sovereignty, extend forgiveness freely, draw strength from Your endless well, recognize Your presence in every circumstance, and rest in Your reckless love. Write Your story through our lives, even through the painful chapters. In Jesus' name, Amen.