How Do We Learn to Turn Our Adversities to Something Good?

             My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to Genesis 42-50. Last week I wrote about how Joseph’s brothers had sold him into slavery in Egypt. The story for this week’s lesson takes place twenty-two years later when Joseph’s brothers travel to Egypt in search of grain to feed their families.

            The years had not been easy for Joseph, and he suffered many trials. He was only seventeen years old when he became a slave, and he had been falsely accused and imprisoned. However, he obeyed God’s commandments and received revelation from God. As it turned out, he was the governor of all Egypt, second only to the pharaoh, when he finally saw his brothers again after many years.

            Joseph had the ability to turn every experience and circumstance into something good, and he did so as an indentured servant and as an inmate in a prison. Hartman Rector, Jr., taught the following about this ability.

This ability to turn everything into something good appears to be a godly characteristic. Our Heavenly Father always seems able to do this. Everything, no matter how dire, becomes a victory to the Lord. Joseph, although a slave and wholly undeserving of this fate, nevertheless remained faithful to the Lord and continued to live the commandments and made something very good of his degrading circumstances. People like this cannot be defeated, because they will not give up. They have the correct, positive attitude, and Dale Carnegie’s expression seems to apply: If you feel you have a lemon, you can either complain about how sour it is, or you can make a lemonade. It is all up to you.” (“Live above the Law to be Free,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, p. 130.)

            Many people in Joseph’s possession would seek revenge against those who had hurt them. However, Joseph forgave his brothers and helped them to see that there was a divine purpose in his suffering. He told them, “God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20). God knew in advance that there would be a famine in all the land – remember He warned pharaoh, and He put a plan in place to save the House of Israel from starvation. He put Joseph in a position to save “all his father’s household” from famine (Genesis 47:12).

            Joseph’s life parallels that of Jesus Christ in many ways. Jesus Christ was sinless, but He suffered greatly to pay for our sins. Jesus Christ offers forgiveness to us and has made it possible for us to be delivered from fate far worse than famine. Joseph’s example points us to the Savior, who is the true source of healing and reconciliation, whether we need forgiveness or to extend it to others.