THE JOY IN PRISON

HH Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

“ And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.  And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison, and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it prosper.” (Genesis 39:20-23).

When God lets us go to prison because we have been serving Him, and goes there with us, prison is the most blessed place in the world that we could be in. Joseph seems to have known that. He did not sulk and grow discouraged and rebellious because .”everything was against him.” If he had, the prison-keeper would never have trusted him so. Joseph does not even seem to have pitied himself.

Let us remember that if self-pity is allowed to set in, that is the end of us–until it is cast utterly from us. Joseph just turned over everything in joyous trust to God, and so the keeper of the prison turned over everything to Joseph. Lord Jesus, when the prison doors close in on me, keep me trusting, and keep my joy full and abounding. Prosper Thy work through me in prison: even there, make me free indeed.

You may be trapped in your own prison of selfishness, greed, hate, jealousy, and whatever is standing between you and your God. That is like a prison to you It may feel like the walls are closing in and there is no way out. The good news is for you to count it all joy because the Lord promised never to leave you nor forsake you. He is your guide and companion. Just count it as joy.