by Michael Weisman

It seems that whenever we’re walking through life’s trials, there are moments when God’s presence escapes us. It’s so easy to become fixed on our circumstances that the noise they create in our lives can drown out God’s still, small voice. In the midst of the chaos we can find ourselves asking the inevitable questions, “God where are You?'“ “Do You really care?” “Why do I have to go through this pain?”

Yet, there’s another question asked of me recently, that stopped me in my tracks. A question that has become an ever-present challenge. A question that I find myself having to answer on a daily basis. A question that forces each one of us to reflect on the strength of our relationship with our Creator. Here’s the question— Are you satisfied with where God has you today?

Let that question sit for a moment. If your answer is yes, then congratulations, you are in rare company. For so many who I speak with, the answer isn’t quite as easy. For believers it’s almost embarrassing to admit that walking with the Lord isn’t enough to bring us joy. Shouldn’t we automatically trust that the Lord has our backs and be fully content with that knowledge? For nonbelievers, satisfaction is of course temporal in nature, found for a moment and then gone as quickly as it came—never sustainable.

After years of searching for true satisfaction, I was recently granted, through God’s amazing grace and mercy, a “peak behind the curtain” of the work He has been doing in my own life that I was never aware of with such clarity. I want you to know how stunning that glimpse was and how reassuring it was for me to see that God had been so close to me all along—quietly directing my path by creating a series of inevitable circumstances for me to arrive at the place He always intended.

I am certainly not the first person, nor will I be the last, to come to the realization that God can be fully trusted to direct my path to accomplish His will in my life. What an overwhelming sense of peace comes in not worrying about what tomorrow may bring but rather enjoying where God has me right now.

One of my favorite books on the subject of God’s providence is God Built, by Steve Farrar. In it, the life of Joseph, one of my most cherished Biblical characters is thoroughly explored. If any individual had reason to not trust God and see the bigger picture of what God was doing behind the scenes, it was Joseph. And yet for me, one of the greatest of God’s promises to each of us is found in Joseph’s story. As each chapter of Joseph’s life unfolds, we find the statement, “but God was with Joseph.”

What an amazing truth to comprehend. No matter our present situation, God is with us! And as He promises, He will never leave us or forsake us. I don’t know about you, but for me it’s extraordinarily comforting to know that the God who created the universe and holds it together in the palm of His hand, also holds my life together and has a purpose for me greater than I can ever imagine.

Back to the story of Joseph, If we take a moment to play the “what if” game, as it does in the book, we go back to the technicolored coat. If there had been no coat, perhaps there would not have been so much envy and jealousy among his brothers. No jealousy, no selling to the Midianite traders. And if the Midianite traders had been heading in the opposite direction, Joseph would have never have gone to Egypt. No Egypt, no selling to Potiphar. Had someone else purchased him, there would have been no encounter with Potiphar’s wife. No Potiphar’s wife, no prison. No prison, no meeting with the baker and the butler. No meeting with the butler, no meeting with Pharaoh to interpret his dream. No meeting with Pharaoh, and Joseph would never have become prime minister. If he hadn’t become prime minister he would not have been reunited with his family and would not have had the power to save them from starvation and bless them with their own land.

The next time you’re confused, disappointed, depressed, feeling unsatisfied with your present condition, pause and reflect on the fact that whatever season of life you’re presently passing through, that, just like with Joseph, God is with you—quietly creating your own series of inevitable circumstances that will ultimately direct your path and be more truly satisfying that you could ever imagine.