Back in the Dark Again

Read

Genesis 40:23 "The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him."

Think

Few things sting like being forgotten. You do the right thing. You help someone out. You step up, serve well, stay faithful—and still get overlooked. That’s what happened to Joseph. He interpreted the dreams of two men in prison with him. One was restored to a place of influence and promised to remember Joseph when he got out. But when he was released, he moved on. Life picked up. Joseph got left behind.

He stayed in that dungeon for two more years.

There’s no verse that says he cried that night. No chapter break that includes a lament. But it’s not hard to imagine how heavy those days must have felt. There are kinds of pain that come from betrayal, and then there are kinds of pain that come from silence. From prayers that echo back empty. From long stretches of nothing happening. Joseph was back in the dark. And this time, not because of a mistake he made—but because of someone else’s forgetfulness.

There’s something deeply relatable about that. Most people don’t experience one crisis and then climb steadily up from there. More often, life comes in waves. We get through one thing, only to be hit again. We trust God through betrayal, resist temptation, stay faithful in hardship—and then wait. And wait. And sometimes wait longer than seems reasonable.

The temptation in those seasons is to believe that silence equals absence. That if nothing is changing, then maybe God isn’t listening. Or worse, maybe he’s not even there.

But silence doesn’t mean absence. It just means the story isn’t finished yet.

It’s like being in an old film reel when the frame freezes. You know there’s more to the story—you just can’t see it yet. Joseph’s life had momentum. Then it paused. But even in that stillness, something was happening. He was growing. Being shaped. Prepared for something greater than he could’ve imagined. God wasn’t late. He was building something that took time.

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison—many of them in a small, barren cell on Robben Island. He was accused, misunderstood, and locked away while others lived freely. But even in confinement, he read, wrote, and prepared. He later said, “I went for a long holiday for 27 years.” His humor masked the pain, but his resolve shaped a nation. The world didn’t see what was happening inside that prison cell, but history did. The dark didn’t stop the purpose. It deepened it.

That’s what was happening with Joseph. Though his circumstances didn’t change, something inside him was. His patience was maturing. His discernment sharpening. His trust in God deepening.

Did you notice that he still helped the cupbearer and the baker, even though he was stuck in prison himself? That shows something remarkable—he didn’t let bitterness shrink his purpose. He used his gifts even when the audience was small. That’s faith. That’s courage. That’s the kind of obedience God can use.

And that’s exactly what Jesus modeled.

Jesus entered the darkness, not because of what he had done, but because of what we had. He was betrayed, falsely accused, imprisoned, and ultimately crucified. And there was a day—Holy Saturday—when nothing happened. No miracles. No resurrection yet. Just silence. His disciples hid. The world waited. And still, the plan of God was unfolding.

Sometimes faith looks like movement. But often, it looks like staying put with your eyes fixed on God. It looks like showing up when nothing changes. Worshiping when there’s no breakthrough. Serving when no one sees. That’s where roots go deep.

Maybe you’re in that in-between place today. You’re not where you were, but not yet where you thought you’d be. The doors haven’t opened. The answer hasn’t come. The cupbearer hasn’t remembered.

But God hasn’t forgotten.

He never left Joseph. He didn’t stop writing the story. He was setting the stage for something bigger—something only God could get the credit for. When the moment came, Joseph would walk out of prison and into a position of power overnight. But before he wore the robe of royalty, he sat in the dark of the dungeon. That part mattered too.

Faith isn’t just about miracles. Sometimes it’s about maintenance. It’s holding steady when everything in you wants to give up. Joseph did that. So did Jesus. And so can you.

Apply

If you feel stuck or forgotten, don’t let discouragement lead to disengagement. Pick one area of your life where you’ve been tempted to stop showing up—your work, your church, your friendships—and give it your full attention today. Reach out to someone you’ve stopped texting back. Finish a project you’ve been avoiding. Show up early. Stay present. Faithfulness in hidden places prepares you for what’s ahead.

Pray

God, thank you for not forgetting me, even when life feels quiet. Teach me to trust you in the silence, to stay faithful when things move slowly, and to believe that you are working even when I can’t see it. Help me choose consistency over comfort and depth over recognition. You see me. You know me. And you are not done with me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.