Life Can Be Cruel

I can still recall playing outside with one of my best friend in third grade.  His brother was also playing with us, and for a reason I can no longer remember he picked up a rock and hit me upside the head.  I do recall he that he got in a lot of trouble.

Rocks hurt.  They hurt worse when coming from a friend.

Reminds me of Joseph.  He seemed to love his brothers, but their feelings for him were just the opposite.  In fact, they hated him.  So much so that one day as the opportunity presented itself the brothers sold Joseph into slavery.

Joseph’s story includes three things that often occur in our own lives, and all three seem to intensify the pain. You can read the whole story in Genesis 37 and 39-50.

1. Indifference.  Later in the narrative the brothers are discussing how they heard his cries, but they ignored them and continued to eat their lunch.  Let’s be honest most are thinking only of themselves.  There were many Saturdays when I was the only one to show for work. They weren’t too worried as to how their absence affected me.  People quit their jobs without any notice at all, being totally oblivious to any hurt they may cause.  Friends hurt friends, spouses hurt spouses, and employees hurt employers and never stop to consider the hurt they cause.  Indifference hurts.

2. Injustice.  Joseph was later thrown into prison by his master after he was falsely accused of attempted rape.  There he sits in the cell thinking, “What good does it do to be good?”  I can imagine a wife feels the same way after her husband leaves her for another woman.  How many times does life appear to go well for the guilty husband.  It just doesn’t seem fair, or just.  And injustice intensifies the hurt.

3. Ingratitude.  After some time in prison, Joseph gained hope.  He gave the interpretation to Pharaoh’s former cupbearer’s dream.  Three days later the cupbearer was released from prison and forgot all about Joseph.  So after Joseph requested that the cupbearer remember him, he forgets him.  It’s as if he is not thankful at all for the interpretation of his dream. That had to hurt. Ingratitude.

If you are Joseph how do you maintain hope?  If your dream has been dashed by family and friends how do you keep hope alive?  How do you keep smiling?  Is it possible to persevere with a positive attitude?

It is, and in my next post I will give you three keys to surviving the cruel encounters of life, because life can be cruel.