Reading the Bible shined a light on my self-centered behavior – get all the details in this post.

We all know the story of Joseph, right?

It’s a great story about rising above your circumstances, but it hit me a little different when I read it recently.

I’ve always read Joseph’s story with the big picture in mind. God was with Joseph, and worked all things together for his good.

Here’s a recap if you need one…

Setting the Scene

Joseph was his parent’s favorite child and they didn’t hide it. His brothers were bitter and jealous and ended up selling him as a slave, telling his parents he was killed in an animal attack.

He became a slave to an Egyptian official, whose wife falsely accused him of accosting her, thus he was thrown into prison.

Even when he was in prison, God didn’t abandon him. Joseph found favor with the guard and was treated well.

Long story short, he makes a lasting good impression that brings him to Pharaoh’s attention and is eventually made second in command over all Egypt.

It’s a great inspirational story about God never leaving us. But too often I gloss over the details because I know how the story ends. From the outside looking in, I can read about God’s provision in a benevolent kind of way.

But living it out is an entirely different matter.

That’s where details make a difference.

God is in the Details

I started reading in Genesis 40. That’s when the cupbearer and baker were thrown into prison with Joseph.

One night, they both had unsettling dreams.

It happens.

We’ve all been there.

But here’s what hit me: Joseph noticed their distress.

He wasn’t wallowing in self-pity. And He wasn’t seething with bitterness. He wasn’t even lashing out at those around him. Joseph didn’t give up or become hopeless… He looked at those around him, and loved them enough to look beyond his own circumstances.

In other words, he loved like Jesus.

WWJD

When Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist died, Jesus was wrecked.

When He heard the news, He planned to withdraw from the crowds, to remove Himself from the spotlight. He wanted to go someplace by Himself and grieve His loss.

But that’s not what happened.

He got in a boat and headed away from it all, but His plan was thwarted. The people saw where He was headed and beat Him there. When the boat made land, they were already waiting for Him.

Seeing the great crowd of people, He flipped out and told them to leave Him alone.

Wait… that’s not right.

He refused to get out of the boat and decided to try somewhere else.

No… that wasn’t it either.

He had compassion and healed their sick.

That’s one of the things I love about Jesus. His heart.

1 John 4:8 says that God is love. And Jesus embodies that truth.

But here’s the thing….

….all too often, I don’t.

So when I read about Joseph noticing his fellow prisoners were unsettled, it shined a light on a bigger issue in my heart.

My Self-Centered Behavior

It’s been almost eight years since my struggle with chronic migraines started.

More often than not, I would have failed to see their distress. I get caught up in my own hardships and become blind to what’s going on around me.

Can You Relate?

Have you ever been there? Do you ever get so focused on yourself, that you miss what’s going on with those around you? None of us are perfect, and God doesn’t expect us to be. Yet Paul reminded us in his letter to the Philippians that we should look beyond ourselves, saying: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (2:4)

Candid Conversations

If you liked this blog post, you’ll also love our anthology, Candid Conversations. While each story shares a unique perspective, the prevailing theme is that while we all struggle, there is hope to be found in Jesus. 

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