From Pit to Promotion: How Joseph Shows Faithfulness Wins Over Clout

Okay, hear me out. What if the moments where life feels totally upside down—like you’re stuck in a season you didn’t ask for, misunderstood, maybe even wrongly accused—aren’t detours?

What if they’re divine setups?

Today, we meet Joseph at one of his lowest points. He’s marked with God’s favor, no question, but here’s the twist—he’s sitting in jail.

Y’all…you cannot make this stuff up.

Am I right? Let’s get into it babe! 

Alright, listen…Besties…

Today’s one of those episodes where I kind of wish we were in the same room. 

You, me, oversized hoodies, iced chai lattes, and maybe a box of those hot Krispy Kreme donuts — like the kind that melt when you blink.

Because this story? It’s about being faithful when no one is clapping. It’s about not trying to impress, not performing, not chasing the glow-up — and still ending up exactly where God needs you.

And Joseph? This man was not looking for the spotlight... but somehow, favor found him. Even in the darkest, most awkward moments of his life.

Now, we’ll get back to Joseph…I promise, but first, let’s hit pause for a little real life levity. You totally know what time it is. 

That’s right, it’s confession time.

And this week’s Funny Confession is brought to you by adulting anxiety and all things irrational:

Here IT IS. 

I absolutely WILL NOT—in fact, CANNOT—open a can of Pillsbury crescent rolls without flinching like I’m ABOUT. TO GET. ATTACKED!

You totally know what I’m talking about. 

The anticipation. 

The pop. 

I brace like it’s a firecracker, every single time.

So yeah. If you ever need a giggle, picture me in the kitchen, whispering a prayer and peeling back cardboard like it’s a bomb. Literally. 

Anyway, kitchen chaos aside, it’s time to peel back a different kind of story… one that starts in Genesis.

If you have your bibles turn with me to Genesis 39. If you don’t, now would be a great time to hit pause, run and go get it. Yes, right now— go, go, go! 

Okay — now, let’s talk Joseph.

But before this week’s deep dive, let’s do a little rewind: So in Genesis 37, Joseph’s life takes the ultimate left turn. Remember? 

He’s his dad’s favorite, he’s rocking the famous coat. His brothers are salty, throw him in a pit, and then sell him to the Ishmaelites.

Real brotherly love, right?

And it would be easy to think that God had stepped out of the picture. 

But nope — God was working even then. 

And in Genesis 39? We see the next part of this wild, God-woven story unfold.

Now, full disclosure: I want you to read through all of Genesis 39 on your own. It’s so rich and so powerful. And gives you the full picture, where today, we just don’t have time to read it ALL together. So for today, and for time purposes, we’ll read aloud Genesis 39:1-18—otherwise, we’d spend the entire podcast just reading scripture. And while that would be amazing, I just can’t. 

So, let’s go.

Genesis 39:1-18

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did,

4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.

5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.

6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,

7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.

9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside.

12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house,

14 she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed.

15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home.

17 Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me.

18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

Alright, there it is! So now, let’s take a minute and really process this. These eighteen verses?

They’re not just history—they’re a masterclass in steady, unnoticed faith. And if I’m being honest… here’s the part that really gets me!

Joseph. Was. Not. Hustling.

He wasn’t like, “Let me position myself for greatness.” He wasn’t trying to be known. No angles, no clout-chasing, no spiritual résumé. Just steady obedience.

And somehow — because God was with him — he just kept finding favor. I mean, FOR REAL.

This is one of those hard-to-believe-stories, am I right? 

First in Potiphar’s house. Then, after being falsely accused of trying to seduce Potiphar’s wife (which, tell me why she made that up, you guys!!), he gets thrown in prison.

And pause here — because we need to talk about that moment.

Can I just say this. And I really need you to just sit there for a minute, and like, actually soak this up. Put yourself in Potiphar’s shoes ok? 

If Potiphar really believed Joseph tried to sleep with his wife, Joseph wouldn’t have just been jailed, like only thrown in prison…am I right? — he’d would be dead. Period. There is just no question. I mean, we see how often people got killed in the Bible. Not to be dramatic, but for straight up, you know I’m right. That’s just how things worked back then.

Anyway, so the fact that Joseph ends up in prison instead of the grave? I think that tells us something. Now we can’t be positive… but I genuinely think that Potiphar knew.

Or at least highly suspected that his wife was lying. 

I think this reveals that He didn’t trust his wife’s character, but also, couldn’t publicly ignore her either.

I really think It’s giving the "I know this isn’t true, but I still have to save face” Vibes… ya know? 

That alone shows how much integrity Joseph walked in.

Even when people lied about him, his character spoke louder.

You guys let that sink in. Don’t you want that same thing for your life? That your character always speaks louder than assumptions or lies others might speak about you? Just saying. 

But THEN — here’s the cherry on top: 

Joseph rises again. In prison.

God literally promotes him in jail.

Not after the trial. Not once he proves himself. 

Right in the middle of the mess.

Like... the favor is following him. Because it’s not based on his situation — it’s based on God’s presence.

And girl, if that doesn’t make you wanna shout quietly in your car or journal like your life depends on it... I don’t know what will.

Alright, so takeaways - Joseph didn’t need a spotlight, and he didn’t hustle for favor—but what does that actually look like in our day-to-day lives? Let’s break it down.

Integrity and Faithfulness: Joseph could’ve been bitter or acted out in Potiphar’s house, but he stayed steady and did what was right. Every single time. And…God honored that. For us, that might look like choosing kindness even when friends are gossiping, doing your homework without anyone checking, or just staying honest even when lying feels easier. Faithfulness in the little things matters.

Resisting Temptation: Potiphar’s wife was relentless, but Joseph said no over and over and over again —and I can promise you… it wasn’t easy. For us, temptation doesn’t always look dramatic. 

It could be gossip, peer pressure, unhealthy trends, or just doing the “wrong” thing to fit in. Standing firm in what’s right is hard, but it’s worth it.

Staying True to Your Identity: Joseph didn’t let being in a new place or around different people make him forget who he was or who God called him to be. Same for you: your value isn’t about likes, followers, or who thinks you’re cool. It’s about God, and He sees you exactly as you are.

Enduring When Life Feels Unfair: Getting thrown in prison after doing the right thing? Rough. But Joseph didn’t let that moment define him—he stayed faithful, and God kept elevating him. For us, unfair stuff happens too—friends misunderstand you, you get blamed for things that aren’t your fault—but your character and faithfulness matter more than immediate approval.

So basically, Joseph’s story isn’t just history. It’s showing us that living with integrity, standing firm, and trusting God even when life’s messy? That’s the kind of faith that sticks. That’s the kind of favor that follows—even when no one’s watching.

Ok, so, seeing all that laid out now—integrity, resisting temptation, staying true to yourself, and enduring when life feels unfair—you might be thinking, “Okay, great Bible story… but I don’t actually feel that playing out in my real life. So how does that really apply? 

That’s a great point, so real quick, I wanna tie this to a real life example that played out in my own life. Maybe make it a little more relatable for you today.

The truth is..there have been moments when I felt unseen, unqualified, or definitely out of place… and I still had to choose faithfulness over flash, integrity over convenience. 

And this actually really reminds me of high school.

So, fun fact: I LOVE to sing. Like, love it with my whole heart. The problem? I never learned how to read music, harmonize, or understand octaves. AT ALL. I was in choir, but when it came to actual skill, I was way behind.

And yet — I SO badly wanted to try out for our elite singing group, “Pop Singers.” You guys, everyone else was polished, professional, and intimidating. Honestly, I knew I didn’t stand a chance.

But my piano instructor, Mrs. McGowan, somehow convinced me to audition anyway. And y’all... let’s just say my audition was different. 

While everyone else sang to classy piano accompaniment, I rolled in with a CD karaoke track and sang my heart out like I was on American Idol.

The judgment? Immediate. I could literally feel the “Who is this girl?” vibes radiating from the room.

But then — the impossible happened. I made it. Despite not knowing alto from soprano, despite not reading a note of music... the instructor thought my raw voice was enough.

Fast forward a little: that same year, nominations opened for president of the Pop Singers. You guys… And somehow... I got nominated. Me. The karaoke girl. The uncool one. The one who did not fit the mold.

I was sure rejection would win. But guess what? God had different plans. I actually got voted in as the president. That’s right, PRESIDENT OF POP SINGERS. I mean seriously. You can’t make this up. 

What others had seen as deviant — different, unqualified — turned into something fresh and life-giving for the group.

And it hit me: others’ rejection does NOT cancel out God’s promotion. 

Human standards may disqualify you, but God doesn’t play by those rules, sis.

So let’s bring this all a little closer to home, shall we? So what does this really mean for you?

Here’s the truth: you don’t need a spotlight to have favor.

Favor is not about being the coolest, the most talented, or the most followed. Favor is about God’s presence. And His presence goes with you into the classroom, onto the field, into the friend group, or even into the “uncool” places you’d rather skip altogether! 

Joseph didn’t hustle for position — he stayed faithful.

I didn’t hustle my way into Pop Singers — God made a way. Period.

And you don’t have to hustle either.

Faithfulness is louder than flash.

Obedience opens doors performance never could.

Character carries weight in heaven, even when people don’t notice it on earth.

Sometimes the very thing people roll their eyes at in you is the exact thing God will use to bless others.

So if you feel unseen? Good news. God still sees. If you feel unqualified? Even better. That’s when His power shines.

Okay, let’s pause and get real for a second. I want you to actually think about these — maybe write them down, maybe talk it out with a friend, maybe just let them simmer this week:

• Where in your life do you feel hidden or stuck right now? Could it be that God is still working behind the scenes there?

• Be honest: are you chasing being noticed more than you’re chasing being faithful?

• If you stopped worrying about who clapped or noticed... what simple act of obedience could you take this week?

Take your time with those. They’re not meant to guilt-trip you — they’re meant to help you breathe and realign with God’s pace.

Alright babe, let’s pray. 

God, thank You for every girl listening to this right now.

Thank You that You see her when no one else does. 

Thank You that You honor faithfulness and obedience, even when it doesn’t feel fair.

I pray that in every prison moment, she’d remember Your presence hasn’t left. That even in places that feel low, Your favor can still rise.

Give her courage to keep showing up with integrity. To trust You with her reputation.

To obey when it’s not popular. 

And to believe that You — not people — are writing her story.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Alright sis — this one hit deep, didn’t it?

If it encouraged you, pass it on! 

Screenshot it, drop a five-star review, and send it to someone who needs that reminder: favor isn’t earned — it’s followed.

And if you’re thinking, “I love Jesus, but life’s still confusing...” I’ve got something just for you.

FRwd: Coaching for Teen Girls is my 6-month one-on-one coaching program.

It’s not counseling. It’s not school. It’s not a Bible class.

It’s real talk, real growth, real faith — all moving you forward.

We’ll work through identity, emotions, confidence, and calling. And yes — there will be chai lattes involved (even if we’re on Zoom).

If you’re curious, hit the link in the show notes. Pull in your mom or guardian, and let’s have that intro call. You’ve got next, girl — for real.

Until next time — keep showing up, stay obedient, and remember:

You don’t have to posture yourself for favor. Just walk with God. And hey, whether it’s Pillsbury crescents or high school auditions, God sees your faithfulness!