When Life Gives You Lemons

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.’”
(Genesis 50:19–20).

You’ve probably heard the familiar phrase, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." It's a well-meaning encouragement to turn adversity into something sweet, but we all know it’s easier said than done. When we're facing difficult, unfair, or even unjust situations, it can feel nearly impossible to take a sour moment and make something good out of it.

Joseph’s story in Genesis 50 is one of the most compelling narratives in Scripture that demonstrates how God's sovereignty and faithfulness can shine through, even in the darkest and most unfair circumstances. When we face hardship or are wronged by others, it can feel almost impossible to see how God could be working in our lives. Yet Joseph’s life is a powerful reminder that God is at work, even when life seems unfair.

Driven by jealousy, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, where he faced years of hardship, betrayal, and wrongful imprisonment. For years, it seemed as if his dreams and destiny were shattered. But through it all, Joseph never lost sight of God’s hand in his life. His story is a story of trust—trust in a God who is always at work, even when we don’t understand what’s happening.

The question we often face when life doesn’t go as planned is, What do we do with the bad news? How do we respond when we are wronged or when circumstances seem to be working against us? The world’s solution might be to get revenge, get angry, or give up, but God calls us to a higher way.

Just as God used Joseph’s suffering to bring about the salvation of many, He can use our trials and injustices to fulfill His purposes. This means that God is greater than our circumstances and He can work through even the worst situations to bring about good.

In a world full of injustice and pain, it can be hard to see beyond the “lemons” life hands us. But just as Joseph did, we can choose to trust in God’s greater plan, even when we don’t understand the why behind our circumstances. Let’s choose to trust God in the midst of the storms, knowing that He is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in us.

Listen to the sermon: Squeezing Good Out of a Dream Gone Wrong

Part 1Part 2

Ministry Update from Mark

For many years, Dee and I have made it a point to attend the wakes of Chicago Police officers killed in the line of duty. For us, it’s personal since Dee’s brother, Donny Marquez, was a Chicago police officer shot and killed on duty at the age of 47, leaving his young family behind.

Officer Enrique Martinez was 26 years old, recently engaged, and in his third year on the Chicago Police Department. He was fatally shot last year on November 11 during a traffic stop.

Today, I want to pause to remember Officer Martinez and pray for his grieving fiancée and parents that God would be a source of comfort and strength in the coming months. May we all continue to work and pray for peace in this city and throughout our nation.