Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought. – Genesis 40:23
Have you ever had somebody promise to do something for you, and then – just like that – they forgot all about it? That’s exactly what happened to Joseph. The chief cup bearer, thrilled to be released from prison, walked out the door and never looked back. Joseph had asked him for one simple thing: “Remember me.” But as soon as freedom came, the man put Joseph right out of his mind.
I can picture Joseph those first few weeks. Every time he heard the jailer’s keys jingling down the hall, maybe he sat up straighter. Maybe his eyes lit up, thinking, This is it. Today’s the day. But the keys passed him by. Weeks turned into months. Months turned into a year. Nothing changed. Joseph was still sitting in that cold prison cell.
Now, it would’ve been easy for him to say, Forget it. God’s not listening. I’ll just stop trusting. But Joseph didn’t go there. He stayed steady in his faith. He knew the cup bearer might have forgotten him, but the Lord hadn’t. And in God’s perfect timing, Joseph’s name came back up – right in Pharaoh’s palace. That’s how Joseph eventually walked into the very place God wanted him all along.
I’ve had times in my own life where nothing seemed to make sense. Hardships popped up that I didn’t ask for, and I found myself wondering if God had walked away. I wasn’t nearly as steady as Joseph. I questioned, I complained. But now, looking back, I can see those were not wasted days. Those were times when God was steering me where I needed to be, even though it felt painful in the moment.
People may forget us. Circumstances may disappoint us. We may even lose sight of God’s hand in the middle of it all. But let me assure you of this: God never forgets His children. Not you. Not me. He’s always working behind the scenes, lining up what’s best.
So if it feels like you’re stuck in a holding pattern, take heart! Your “keys jingling down the hall” moment will come. And when it does, you’ll see that it was worth the wait.
Former Blackout Artist 