Gracious Father, many of us have felt some measure of grief in our lives. No matter its source or its duration, grief is not a welcome visitor to anyone.

That was surely the case, Father, for young Joseph in the Old Testament. The apple of his father’s eye, Joseph had no idea that he would be betrayed by his brothers, enslaved and imprisoned, and then separated from his family and country for what seemed like forever.

Thank you, Father, for Joseph’s story in the Bible. I weep whenever I read it. At first, my tears flow from deep sadness that Joseph endured so much anguish and loss. But when the story takes a turn—when Joseph rises to success and is reunited with his grieving father who thought his son had been dead for all those years—my tears spring from pure joy!

O God, in Joseph’s grief we feel our own grief. May we see that you are with us in our suffering too. May we understand that even when others intend harm, you intend good and can overrule evil to accomplish your perfect plans. With your help, Father, we can each become fruitful in the land of our grief.