A Confidence of Many Colors

But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them.  They couldn’t say a kind word to him.
Genesis 37:4 NLT

Joseph was the favorite child, always had the finest gifts from daddy, and his brothers hated him for it. I always wondered why Joseph thought it was a smart idea to tell his brothers about “the dream”—you know, the one where they all bowed down to him? Like, come on Broseph . You really thought that would go over well? Take a hint, bud.

Joseph was unusually favored, which led to unusual suffering. Because he was loved the most, Joseph’s brothers threw him into a pit and sold him into slavery. Because he looked like an Abercrombie model, Potiphar’s wife desperately wanted Joseph’s bod (but he refused), so she falsely accused him of rape. Because he didn’t compromise his integrity, Joseph was jailed and beaten and abandoned and forgotten.

It’s hard to feel confident when you’re surrounded by haters, especially when they intentionally try to harm you. But here’s what I love about Joseph: Despite what others said about him, he held on to what was true and remained in perfect peace. Despite what people did to him, he endured every trial with perseverance and grace. Despite every unfair circumstance, he rested assured that God would pull through in a miraculous way.

Just like his coat of many colors, Joseph wore a confidence of many colors. The tapestry of his character was beautiful because of his unwavering faith. He knew that eventually God would rescue him from every hateful snare. However, the most valuable thing to note is Joseph’s disposition:

He didn’t walk in bitterness, self-pity, or unforgiveness.

He didn’t waste any time plotting his revenge.

And more importantly, he didn’t allow pride to take over. When he experienced success, giving a “shout-out to all the haters” was never on his radar.

Joseph’s strategy was simple: trust God, have integrity, show mercy. That was it! If that’s not confidence, I don’t know what is! If we have this kind of character, one that resembles the heart of Jesus, God will always work things out for our good.

Lord, people can be so hateful.  Lord, people can be so hateful.  But keep my character pure despite my pain. I want Your goodness to always shine through me. Amen.

This is an excerpt from A Confidence That Changes Everything: Devotions to Shine Bright in This Topsy-Turvy Life, the new book by Hannah Crews!