Yet this was the necessary unfolding of God s will for Joseph and for the house of Israel and more important, for God s ultimate plan of salvation. Although Joseph never understood the reason for his suffering when he was in the midst of it, and although he could see his youth and life ticking away in a seemingly meaningless way, he still held fast to the right choice that he had made in the beginning. The lesson for us is to hold on to the right choices we make, even if the immediate consequences seem unfavorable. The story of Joseph encourages us that if we continue to lead a life of close communion with God, we will surely see His great will unfolding before our eyes. These principles are surely not an exhaustive guide to making choices according to God s will, but they represent some useful methods we can apply when we need to make major decisions.
Many people feel lost when facing a crossroad in their lives.
This is not because God's will is not evident, but rather because they have waited until they are at the crossroad before they start drawing near to search the will of God, or even because they have a subconscious unwillingness to accept what they already know is the right choice. Hence, the principle of leading a godly life of constant and deep communion with God is critical. It is not the isolated, desperate plea that we make to God that will reveal His will, nor is it the sudden surge in emotions that will help us to follow His guidance. Rather, a constant, deep communion with God will allow us to understand His will when we need it, and soften our hearts to submit to Him.