Definition — Faith is the confidence that Jesus is who he says he is and he will keep every promise he has made to us.

Tension - what I believe about God and the difficult circumstance I am facing today.

Directive — Faith always leads to action.

James 2:14–17

What good is it . . . if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him . . . In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Hebrews 11:22

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

Genesis 37:19–20

“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”

Not Fair

Genesis 39:6–7

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

Genesis 39:21

The Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

Not fair

Genesis 41:38–40

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

If you were Joseph what would you do?

Genesis 45:4–5

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

Will I focus on what they did or what God has done?

Genesis 50:19–21

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…

What are you going to do?

Choose to forgive.

Matthew 26:53

Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

The thread of faith ties all the hurts in life together.