Whilst perhaps not as traumatic as Yosef’s life, we all experience ups and down in our lives. We suffer setbacks and disappointments in different areas of our lives, including our careers, financial standing, health and family problems. Like waves, they may come one after another, leaving us little time to breath and recompose in between. These experiences may lead us to give up, lose hope and see ourselves as victims and even drive us to negative and harmful behaviours that we may justify.
By looking at Yosef, we can learn how to ride the waves of our challenges and never give up.
Yosef never lost his faith in Hashem. Even as a slave, the name of Hashem was constantly on his lips. Bitachon, trust in Hashem is our greatest anchor and strength when facing life’s challenges, knowing that whatever happens comes from Him and that we are in His hands. No matter what we are going through, we know that we are never alone.
Our sages teach that when the wife of Potiphar tried to seduce him and he felt a moment of weakness, he saw the image of his father and this gave him the strength to overcome his struggle. Yosef remembered who he was and where he came from. He remembered that he has a father who loves him and believed in him. This gave him inner strength.
Yosef never gave up. He always tried to make the most out of every situation that he found himself in. He never let his circumstance, be it slave or prisoner define him. With dignity and self-belief, he always strove to be productive and find success.
Despite his own suffering, Yosef was sensitive to the pain and suffering of others. The morning after the chief butler and baker had their troubling dreams, Yosef noticed that they were looking sad. He could have ignored them and felt completely justified. He had his own worries and bitter predicament to contend with. But he reached out to them with empathy, asking if they were okay and how he could help.
Many time the key to our own struggles and the way to find joy and purpose, is by helping and giving to others. Ultimately Yosef’s circumstances changed dramatically. In a short space of time he was freed and elevated, becoming viceroy of Egypt and the saviour of the known world. Retroactively it became apparent that each setback was a necessary step to get him there.
With Bitachon, positivity and determination, we too will emerge stronger and grow from our challenges, advancing towards a brighter future and redemption.
