Listen to today’s devo!

While Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord . . . showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. (Gen. 39:20–21)

Have you ever felt trapped? One of the games I would play with my two brothers growing up included two of us piling all of our living room pillows and blankets on top of the other sibling. We all laughed while we did the piling, but when it was our turn to be trapped, it was terrifying!

There are horrific stories of people getting trapped in physically dark places—mines, collapsed buildings, or tunnels. But there are also people who get trapped in metaphorical dark places—cycles of addiction, abusive relationships, or even helpless medical conditions. The terror and desperation of the darkness can be overwhelming, let alone the helplessness you feel when you don’t know how to escape.

Joseph found himself in a literal dark place, with no available exit strategy. It would be completely understandable for Joseph to feel desperate and alone in prison, especially after living so freely just moments before as the head of Potiphar’s household. And yet, regardless of Joseph’s fall from Potiphar’s favor, the Lord was still with him. The Lord’s presence was not contingent upon Joseph’s status or success, and he showed his loving-kindness to Joseph in the dark place of prison. When we find ourselves trapped in the dark places of life, the Lord draws near to us, giving us the strength and the grace to pass through it.

Know that the Lord’s loving presence is with you in dark places.

Allison Krupp is a resident pastor at College Wesleyan Church in Marion, Indiana, and pursuing ordination. She enjoys having conversations over coffee and laughing loudly with friends.

© 2021 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.