THE TEARS WOULDN’T STOP. How did he come to be in this terrible situation—a captive, being taken to a distant and and into a fearfully dark future?
As Joseph gazed through his tears at the hills in the distance, he thought he could recognize one hill as being where home was. Family and everything familiar and dear was so near, yet so far. Would he ever see his father again? Feeling desperately alone and friendless, he allowed grief to overwhelm him once more.
EMOTIONAL SHOCK
A sudden frightening or traumatic experience can result in disorientation and strong emotions, with any number of physical responses—all parts of an overall reaction known as Emotional Shock. We all can experience Emotional Shock in the wake of a sudden, unexpected, life-altering event, including accident, injury, death, crime, health diagnosis, abandonment, job loss, or the impact of a natural disaster.Reactive symptoms can include:
1. Fear of threat to life and safety and of an unknown future
2. Inability to rationalize and make sense of the situation
3. Physical effects such as rapid heartbeat, increase in blood pressure, muscle tension, generalized aches and pains, or gastrointestinal upset
4. Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
5. Episodes of “brain fog” or the inability to think and plan logically, including difficulty with everyday routine
6. Temporary change in personality
7. Inability to find meaning and purpose in life
The ongoing stress which can result from a traumatic experience may impair or extend recovery. Anger, blame, rebellion, sadness, and depression can take hold and interfere with everyday life. If we are unable to cope with these and other severe feelings after some time, professional guidance and assistance may provide healing support.
THIS IS WHO I AM
For a time, Joseph gave way to uncontrolled grief and terror. But as he journeyed on with the other captives, his thoughts turned to the God of his father. He remembered Jacob’s stories of being an exile—a fugitive—and how the Lord protected him, helped him, comforted him, sent him a vision, and promised him a future. Joseph determined that his father’s God would be his God too. “He then and there gave himself fully to the
Lord, and he prayed that the Keeper of Israel would be with him in the land of his exile” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 214).
From that moment on, 17-year-old Joseph became a man who was completely committed to the high resolve of being true to God and serving Him with a dedicated heart no matter the situation. He would be faithful in duty and witness. He would be thoughtful, courageous, selfpossessed, honest, and unashamed of his father’s religion—a worshiper of Jehovah. During his ten years of serving Potiphar, captain of the king’s guard, as a slave, Joseph was exposed to extraordinary temptations. “Yet Joseph preserved his simplicity and his fidelity to God. The sights and sounds of vice were all about heard not. His thoughts were not permitted to linger upon forbidden subjects” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 213).
This is who the man Joseph became.
WHO ARE YOU?
When we introduce ourselves to someone, we often associate our name with something simple such as our occupation, who we are married to, our role in the current occasion, or our association with a mutual friend. But there can be moments when the question “Who am I?” haunts us.
Taking time to figure out the answer to that question can infuse our lives with purpose and meaning, facilitate confidence in identity, and enrich our relationships. The process needs a growth mindset that sees value in continually learning. As with Joseph, we can more safely navigate the challenges of life with strength of conviction and purpose by knowing ourselves well—our core values, reference points, and convictions.
Figuring out who you are can be taken in steps:
1. Review your childhood and youth. What experiences come to mind that gave you joy, amazed you, or taught you unforgettable lessons? What values have you learned from your parents, relatives, and teachers?
2. What is your baseline reference point? Is the God of Joseph your God too? What does that look like in your life just now? Do your faith and trust sustain you in your dark experiences? Are you feeding your faith with regular study, prayer, and fresh resolve? Knowing where you stand on this issue—that of your baseline reference point—is of utmost importance in identifying the ultimate foundation of your life.
3. Ask a trusted friend or loved one to describe your personality honestly. We may be uncertain how to define ourselves, and the opinion of another could help clarify confusion and questions we may have.
4. What do you value? Thoughtfully make a list and then prioritize it. Your list could include love, freedom, God, church, nature, health, family, quiet time, and more. Your list will tell you what you feel is important and what motivates you.
5. What are you passionate about? The environment? Feeding people experiencing homelessness? Caring for others? Family time together? Knowing what excites and sparks joy shows us how we tend to direct our lives in ministry and vocation.
6. Make a list of what you are not. Knowing what you are not good at or passionate about will help you understand what you want or need in life.
7. How do you spend your free time? What brings you joy, relaxation, and inspiration? Reading? Trying new recipes? Gardening? Visiting with friends and family? Traveling? Knowing what adds balance and restoration to your life helps you understand what energizes and feeds your spirit.
GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD
Later, while reassuring his brothers that he had no ill feelings toward them, Joseph showed he knew who he was and who God was to him—a God who “works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
“You intended to harm me,” Joseph told them, “but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). Through adversity and prosperity Joseph never wavered from his faith or from his commitment to God. And God was glorified by His faithful servant Joseph.
We, too, can have confidence and peace in the certainty of knowing who we are and whose we are.
