{"id":2826,"date":"2026-02-15T22:05:50","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T22:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gobeyondlocal.com\/faith\/?p=2826"},"modified":"2026-02-16T00:30:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T00:30:15","slug":"many-are-the-afflictions-of-the-righteous-joseph","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gobeyondlocal.com\/faith\/devotional\/many-are-the-afflictions-of-the-righteous-joseph\/","title":{"rendered":"Many Are The Afflictions Of The Righteous"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many Are The Afflictions Of The Righteous<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Psalm thirty-four declares that\u00a0many<\/strong>\u00a0are the afflictions of the righteous. The Holy Spirit spoke\u00a0plainly<\/strong>\u00a0here. A\u00a0trouble-free<\/strong>\u00a0existence finds\u00a0no promise<\/strong>\u00a0in this verse. Afflictions come in numbers, arrive as waves, and enter through directions unknown to the righteous.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0beauty<\/strong>\u00a0of this same verse lies in its\u00a0second half<\/strong>. The One who announces the multitude of afflictions also declares the certainty of deliverance. The LORD\u00a0delivereth<\/strong>\u00a0him out of them\u00a0all<\/strong>.\u00a0Every single one.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Joseph walked this path long before the psalm was written. Scripture presents him as a young man carrying\u00a0dreams from God<\/strong>. He shared those dreams with his family. His brothers responded with\u00a0hatred<\/strong>. They stripped him of his coat of many colours. They threw him into a pit. They sat down to eat while he cried from that dark hole. They sold him to slave traders for twenty pieces of silver.<\/p>\n

That pit held more than Joseph’s body.\u00a0Betrayal<\/strong>\u00a0from family.\u00a0Loss of freedom<\/strong>.\u00a0Uncertainty<\/strong>\u00a0about the future. A seventeen-year-old boy,\u00a0innocent<\/strong>\u00a0of wrongdoing, sat in darkness while his brothers laughed above him. The affliction\u00a0multiplied<\/strong>\u00a0in that single moment.<\/p>\n

The slave traders carried him to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, purchased him. Joseph served\u00a0faithfully<\/strong>\u00a0in that house. He worked hard. God received honour through his conduct. Everything he touched\u00a0prospered<\/strong>. Then\u00a0Potiphar’s wife<\/strong>\u00a0noticed him. Day after day she pursued him. Joseph refused to\u00a0sin against God<\/strong>. She caught him by his garment. He left it in her hand and fled. She screamed and lied, using his garment as false evidence.\u00a0Prison<\/strong>\u00a0received him.<\/p>\n

That prison carried its own affliction.\u00a0Innocence meant nothing<\/strong>\u00a0there. Doing the right thing earned\u00a0no reward<\/strong>. The chief butler whom Joseph helped by interpreting his dream\u00a0forgot<\/strong>\u00a0him for\u00a0two full years<\/strong>. Scripture records that he remembered him not, but forgat him. Two years of chains when\u00a0no crime<\/strong>\u00a0had been committed. Questions about heaven’s silence filled his mind. Affliction upon affliction.<\/p>\n

Yet Scripture makes a striking observation about Joseph in that dungeon. The\u00a0LORD was with Joseph<\/strong>. Divine presence remained with him\u00a0despite the prison walls<\/strong>. The covenant stood firm though chains bound him. The memory of God did not fade though men forgot him.<\/p>\n

\n

When the appointed time arrived, Pharaoh dreamed. The chief butler\u00a0finally remembered<\/strong>\u00a0Joseph. They brought him from the prison, shaved and changed his raiment. He stood before Egypt’s most powerful man. God gave him the\u00a0interpretation<\/strong>. Pharaoh recognized the\u00a0Spirit of God<\/strong>\u00a0in him. That same day, Joseph went from prisoner to\u00a0governor<\/strong>\u00a0over all the land of Egypt. Fine linen replaced prison garments. The second chariot of Egypt carried him through the streets. Men bowed before him.<\/p>\n

The pit could\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0hold him. Slavery could\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0define him. False accusation could\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0destroy him. Prison could\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0contain him. The LORD\u00a0delivered<\/strong>\u00a0him out of them\u00a0all<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Scripture records that the LORD was with Joseph, and that which he did, the LORD\u00a0made it to prosper<\/strong>. Even in the house of Potiphar, even in the prison, the hand of God rested upon him.<\/p>\n

When the brothers threw Joseph into the pit,\u00a0destruction<\/strong>\u00a0of his destiny topped their agenda. God used that same pit to begin his journey toward the\u00a0palace<\/strong>. When Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him,\u00a0ruin<\/strong> of his life consumed her thoughts. God used that accusation to position<\/strong>\u00a0him exactly where he needed to be. When the chief butler forgot him,\u00a0victory<\/strong>\u00a0seemed certain to the enemy. God was simply waiting for the\u00a0perfect<\/strong>\u00a0moment.<\/p>\n

Hidden in Joseph’s story lies a\u00a0principle<\/strong>\u00a0for every righteous person. The affliction itself becomes the\u00a0avenue for elevation<\/strong>. What the adversary means for\u00a0evil<\/strong>, the LORD turns for\u00a0good<\/strong>. The pit becomes\u00a0pathway<\/strong>, the prison\u00a0preparation<\/strong>, the workshop.<\/p>\n

The Adversary thought he could\u00a0destroy<\/strong>\u00a0Joseph in the pit. Instead, that pit taught Joseph to\u00a0depend on God alone<\/strong>. At the bottom of a pit with no human help available, a person learns to cry out to heaven. The adversary thought he could\u00a0break<\/strong>\u00a0Joseph through temptation in Potiphar’s house. Instead, Joseph learned to\u00a0fear God<\/strong>\u00a0more than the consequences of doing right. The adversary thought he could\u00a0bury<\/strong>\u00a0Joseph in prison. Instead, Joseph learned to\u00a0serve God<\/strong>\u00a0even when no promotion was in sight, in the height of affliction.<\/p>\n

\n

By the time Joseph stood before Pharaoh, he was\u00a0ready<\/strong>. The pits had\u00a0prepared<\/strong>\u00a0him. Slavery had\u00a0forged<\/strong>\u00a0him. The prison had\u00a0matured<\/strong>\u00a0him. He did not\u00a0need<\/strong>\u00a0the palace to validate him. He had already learned that the\u00a0LORD was with him<\/strong>, even in the dungeon. Those afflictions had done their work, forging a\u00a0character<\/strong> strong enough to govern a nation.<\/p>\n

The same God who accompanied Joseph through\u00a0every<\/strong>\u00a0affliction walks with\u00a0you<\/strong>. He knows exactly how much pressure you can\u00a0bear<\/strong>, precisely\u00a0when<\/strong> to step in, and how to deliver in ways that bring glory<\/strong>\u00a0to His name and testimony to your life.<\/p>\n

When the adversary afflicts with intention to\u00a0break<\/strong>, the LORD uses that same affliction to\u00a0bend<\/strong>. Bending differs from breaking. Bending brings\u00a0flexibility<\/strong>, strengthens, and\u00a0prepares<\/strong>\u00a0for what lies ahead. A tree that has never faced wind grows\u00a0shallow roots<\/strong>. A tree that has weathered many storms stands firm because its roots have gone\u00a0deep<\/strong>\u00a0searching for water. Affliction drove Joseph’s roots\u00a0deep<\/strong>\u00a0into the soil of God’s fruitfulness.<\/p>\n

When the adversary afflicts with intention to\u00a0silence<\/strong>, the LORD uses that same affliction to give a\u00a0new song<\/strong>. The deepest praises emerge from the\u00a0deepest pits<\/strong>. The loudest testimonies arise from the\u00a0fiercest battles<\/strong>. Joseph’s testimony was on how God\u00a0delivered<\/strong>\u00a0him out of every trouble.<\/p>\n

When the adversary afflicts with intention to\u00a0isolate<\/strong>, the LORD uses that same affliction to draw\u00a0closer<\/strong>.\u00a0Joseph discovered that even in prison, the\u00a0LORD was with him<\/strong>. That discovery\u00a0outweighed<\/strong>\u00a0the freedom he temporarily lost.<\/p>\n

The Psalmist made a striking confession in Psalm one hundred and nineteen:\u00a0It is good<\/strong>\u00a0for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Affliction teaches what comfort\u00a0cannot<\/strong>\u00a0reach, reveals what prosperity\u00a0hides<\/strong>\u00a0from view, and drives the soul to the\u00a0Word<\/strong>. Joseph learned the statutes of God in Potiphar’s house and in the darkness of the prison. Those lessons stayed with him for\u00a0life<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Scripture records that the LORD\u00a0visited<\/strong>\u00a0Joseph in prison and that the keeper of the prison committed all things into his hand because the\u00a0LORD was with him<\/strong>. The same hand that guided Joseph\u00a0guides you<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

Perhaps the body carries affliction through sickness that has lingered beyond all medical explanation. Scripture records that the LORD is the one who\u00a0healeth<\/strong>\u00a0all diseases. The same hand that touched the leper and made him\u00a0whole<\/strong>\u00a0reaches toward\u00a0you<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the finances carry affliction as bills arrive faster than provision. Scripture declares that the LORD is\u00a0Jehovah Jireh<\/strong>, the one who sees and provides. He was with Joseph in prison and did\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0forget him. He\u00a0sees<\/strong>\u00a0your needs.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the family carries affliction in marriage, children wandering far from faith. Scripture records that the LORD\u00a0restored<\/strong>\u00a0Joseph to his father and his brothers. He\u00a0restores<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the mind carries affliction through thoughts that refuse to quiet. Scripture declares that God has given the spirit of\u00a0power<\/strong>,\u00a0love<\/strong>, and a\u00a0sound mind<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The afflictions may be\u00a0many<\/strong>, but the deliverance is\u00a0mighty<\/strong>. The LORD does not deliver from some afflictions while leaving others. He delivers out of them\u00a0all<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt years later, bowing before him, fulfilling the very dreams they had tried to\u00a0destroy<\/strong>. Joseph looked at them and spoke words that reveal a heart fully taught in the ways of God:\u00a0But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good<\/strong>, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.<\/p>\n

The brothers meant\u00a0evil<\/strong>. The adversary meant\u00a0evil<\/strong>. The afflictions meant\u00a0evil<\/strong>.\u00a0God meant it for good<\/strong>. The pit worked for Joseph’s\u00a0good<\/strong>. The slavery worked for his\u00a0good<\/strong>. The false accusation worked for his\u00a0good<\/strong>. The prison worked for his\u00a0good<\/strong>. Every affliction became a\u00a0tool<\/strong> in the hand of a sovereign God, preparing Joseph for the destiny ahead.<\/p>\n

This is the testimony of the righteous. Afflictions come, but the LORD\u00a0delivers<\/strong>\u00a0out of them all. The path may be difficult, but the destination is\u00a0certain<\/strong>. The night may be long, but\u00a0joy cometh<\/strong> in the morning.<\/p>\n

The same God who delivered Joseph is\u00a0still delivering<\/strong>. The same God who turned his captivity\u00a0still turns<\/strong>\u00a0afflictions for good today. Affliction carries an\u00a0expiration date<\/strong>. The Battle has a\u00a0termination point<\/strong>. The LORD is about to\u00a0show up<\/strong>. When He shows up, He\u00a0shows off<\/strong>. Mourning turns to\u00a0dancing<\/strong>. Setbacks turn to\u00a0prosperity<\/strong>. Barrenness turns to\u00a0fruitfulness<\/strong>. Captivity turns to\u00a0freedom<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

LET’S PRAY<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Every pit dug for evil, become the\u00a0pathway to the palace<\/strong>, in the name of Jesus.<\/p>\n

Every chain holding the righteous in bondage,\u00a0break<\/strong>\u00a0by the fire of the Holy Ghost and in the name of Jesus.<\/p>\n

O LORD,\u00a0visit<\/strong>\u00a0this waiting period with delivering power.<\/p>\n

Let every evil meant against the righteous be\u00a0turned for good<\/strong>, O God.<\/p>\n

Lord, let\u00a0more testimonies<\/strong>\u00a0arise out of affliction.<\/p>\n

Every yoke of the Adversary upon the righteous, be\u00a0destroyed by fire<\/strong>, in the name of Jesus.<\/p>\n

Thank You<\/strong>\u00a0O God of Joseph, for Your visitation and for Your delivering power today.<\/p>\n

In Jesus name, Amen!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

Let’s Make These Declarations By Faith<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This day, the LORD\u00a0arises<\/strong>\u00a0over my life. Every affliction that has troubled me shall\u00a0end<\/strong>. The hand of the Lord stretches out to\u00a0deliver<\/strong>\u00a0me. His word goes forth to\u00a0heal<\/strong>\u00a0me.<\/p>\n

His angels are dispatched to\u00a0war<\/strong>\u00a0on my behalf. I shall\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0be overwhelmed. I shall\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0be confounded. I shall\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0be destroyed. I shall come forth as\u00a0gold tried in the fire<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

My latter end shall be more blessed<\/strong>\u00a0than my beginning. The testimony of the LORD shall be\u00a0heard<\/strong>\u00a0in my mouth. Songs of deliverance shall\u00a0fill<\/strong>\u00a0my house. The Adversary that gathered against me shall\u00a0scatter<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The traps they set for me shall\u00a0catch them<\/strong>. The evil they planned for me shall\u00a0return<\/strong>\u00a0upon their own heads. I am\u00a0delivered<\/strong>. I am\u00a0free<\/strong>. I am a\u00a0victor<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In Jesus’ name, Amen!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Scripture declares that the righteous face many trials. This devotional addresses spiritual battles and focuses on the certain promise of divine rescue from every affliction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2832,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[794],"tags":[788,790,743,762,792,787,789,737,793,791],"class_list":["post-2826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-devotional","tag-affliction","tag-biblical-story","tag-deliverance","tag-faith","tag-gods-deliverance","tag-joseph","tag-pit","tag-prayer","tag-righteous-suffering","tag-suffering"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gobeyondlocal.com\/faith\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gobeyondlocal.com\/faith\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gobeyondlocal.com\/faith\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gobeyondlocal.com\/faith\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gobeyondlocal.com\/faith\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2826"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/gobeyondlocal.com\/faith\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2826\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2856,"href":"https:\/\/gobeyondlocal.com\/faith\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2826\/revisions\/2856"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gobeyondlocal.com\/faith\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gobeyondlocal.com\/faith\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gobeyondlocal.com\/faith\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gobeyondlocal.com\/faith\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}