Joseph’s Secret to Waiting Well: Staying Faithful and Speaking Truth Even When it's Hard

Imagine being in a place where the stakes are crazy high, and your words could literally change someone’s life—or end it. That’s Joseph in Genesis 40.

He has to tell a baker he’s going to die—and somehow, he does it with courage, honesty, and zero sugar-coating. 

Meanwhile, he’s also stuck waiting for the cupbearer to remember him so his own life can move forward. Talk about a pressure cooker!

Today, we’re unpacking what it looks like to speak truth bravely, trust God with the outcomes, and wait well when life isn’t unfolding on your timeline. It’s dramatic, it’s real, and—let’s be honest—super relatable.

Ok besties! Forget chai tea lattes and hoodies this time. I want you to grab something totally extra: a giant, overstuffed sweater that makes you feel like a burrito, a cup of your favorite hot chocolate with way too much whipped cream, and maybe even a throw pillow you can hug while we dive into this story today! 

Now, before we deep dive into Joseph and all the Bible goodness, let’s hit a little pause for some real-life hilarity. As always…It’s time for THIS WEEK’S Funny Confessions—NOW, some of you may be saying What the heck is funny confessions? 

Babe, I am so glad you asked. Really, it’s just a brand-new Season 2 segment where we get real, laugh at ourselves, and remember that life—teen life, adult life, faith life—is messy, unpredictable, and often downright ridiculous. 

Because honestly, if we can’t laugh at ourselves a little, we might cry… or eat an entire box of cereal in one sitting.

So funny confessions is just our way of laughing at our totally ridiculous, mostly extra coping mechanisms. 

Okay, confession time…sometimes I get way too dramatic about cereal. Like, hear me out.

Step one: pour the cereal. 

Step two: pour the milk. 

And this is where it gets serious. 

Not too fast, or it splashes everywhere—milk streaking the counter like it’s auditioning for a horror movie. 

Not too slow, or the cereal floats like little awkward life rafts.

And then there’s the stance. 

I have to like lean over the bowl at just the right angle, like I’m conducting a super delicate science experiment.

But the real kicker? 

The arrangement. 

If the cereal pieces aren’t just right, or the milk coverage isn’t perfect, I literally rearrange the cereal with my spoon before even taking a bite. 

And the ultimate example: Lucky Charms. 

You know exactly what I mean. The oat cereal sinks, the marshmallows fight for the top layer like they own the place. It’s just chaos. Like absolute chaos. 

And somehow, I have to tame it before I can eat it. Do you know what I mean? Are you picking up what I’m throwing down?

Honestly, even if you say you don’t, I feel like you do. 

So yeah…cereal prep is basically an extreme sport in my house. Don’t judge.

It’s ridiculous. And yes, it takes longer than it should, and yes, it makes zero sense—but it feels like a high-stakes ritual.

Confessions aside, these small moments? They’re practice for patience and trust—like learning to wait for God’s timing in the big stuff. Ya know, babe? 

Which is exactly what we see with Joseph in Genesis 40. 

And isn’t that the cutest little transition ever? Cereal to Joseph. Ugh for sure.  

Ok, so, if you have your Bible’s turn with me to Genesis Chapter 40. 

Heads up: the whole chapter is worth your time, because it layers in so much perspective on Joseph’s story. But for now, we’re gonna pull out a few verses that hit the hardest. 

Genesis 40:5-22. That’s where Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker and where we’re going to focus today’s episode on. So let’s go. Genesis 40:5 begins… 

Genesis 40:5-22 (NIV)

5 The chief cupbearer and the chief baker of Pharaoh offended their master, the king of Egypt.

6 Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker,

7 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined.

8 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time,

9 each of them had a dream the same night, and each dream had its own meaning.

10 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he noticed that they were downcast.

11 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”

12 They answered him, “We both had dreams, but there is no one to interpret them.”

13 “Do not interpretations belong to God?” Joseph asked them. “Tell me your dreams.”

14 Then the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me,

15 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes.

16 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and put the cup in his hand.”

17 “This is the meaning of your dream,” Joseph said. “The three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.

18 But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house.

19 For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”

20 The chief baker, however, told Joseph his dream. He said, “In my dream I had three baskets of bread on my head.

21 In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

22 “This is the meaning of your dream,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and impale you on a pole, and the birds will eat away your flesh.”

Okay, let’s pause and process. A few things here are straight-up gold for our lives:

1. Courage to speak truth in love – Let’s be honest…Joseph could have stayed quiet. He could have told everyone exactly what they wanted to hear or stayed “safe.” But he boldly gave God’s truth. That’s scary, right? Imagine telling someone they’re about to lose their life. Joseph had courage, humility, and wisdom all in one.

   
   

2. Trusting God with the outcome – He didn’t freak out when the cupbearer forgot him. He trusted God’s timing. He knew God’s plan doesn’t always match our calendar.

   
   

3. Timing matters – God often asks us to wait longer than we want. Joseph waited two whole years before the cupbearer remembered him! And those years weren’t wasted—they were preparation.

   
   

4. Use your gifts wherever you are – Even in prison, Joseph applied the skills God gave him.

   
   

   Teen girls, your voice, your gifts, your kindness? You don’t need the perfect stage or the perfect moment to start.

So what does this look like in your life? Let’s chat:

• Standing up with courage – Maybe you see a friend making a choice you know is harmful. Joseph’s story shows that sometimes standing firm and speaking truth in love is uncomfortable—but life-changing.

  
  

• Waiting well – Got a crush situation, a scholarship, a dream role in school, or just wanting your life to “happen”? Joseph waited without giving up. Trust God’s timing, even when your calendar screams “NOW!”

  
  

• Use your gifts now – Don’t wait for the spotlight. Start being the helper, the encourager, the leader, the listener—wherever you are.

  
  

Alright, before we dive deeper, I’ve got a story from my high school days that might actually make all this “courage and timing” stuff click. It’s one of those moments where my feelings were doing backflips, my patience was hanging by a thread, and I had to actually speak up instead of ghosting the drama like I usually wanted to. Spoiler alert: it was awkward, a little cringe, and totally unforgettable—and it’s exactly the kind of moment that shows what trusting God with the outcome looks like in real life, especially when we don’t want to speak up! 

So here’s the vibe: high school Kaase, dating a genuinely sweet guy, but he was a year younger and—let’s be honest—a total avoider when it came to confrontation. 

So after a lonnnnng week of little arguments building up, he decided to skip out on our plans one night to hang out with his guy friends instead. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all about FRIENDS. Period. It’s super important, even when you’re dating someone seriously, to prioritize friendships, because I promise, Bros will be bros. Anyway…

I could’ve let it slide, pretended it didn’t hurt, or just laughed it off. But, the truth is, it did hurt.

In fact, it stung, and I knew I needed to say something. So I took a deep breath, told him honestly how I felt, and stood my ground. No yelling, no drama—just truth spoken with courage. 

And you know what? That moment of honesty didn’t ruin us. It helped both of us see each other more clearly. 

Not gonna lie—it did not land well at first. He went full-on pout fest 2002. But eventually, he bounced back, and honestly, we both came out stronger for it—thankfully.

And that’s the thing about truth—it’s not always easy to hear or to say. Joseph knew that too.

He had the choice: soften the blow with a lie, or stand firm in truth. 

He chose honesty with the baker, even though it came with finality. 

And sometimes that’s exactly what courage looks like—being willing to stand in the uncomfortable and trust God with the outcome. 

Just like Joseph, I had to lean in, say the truth, and let it shape me into something stronger.

The thing is…those cringe-y, uncomfortable moments? They’re more than just awkward, they’re like training sessions for courage and trust. 

Joseph didn’t get a pass when it came to telling the baker the truth, I couldn’t escape my own hurt or frustration that night.

But when we choose to stand strong and hand the outcome over to God, that’s when real growth takes root.

So let’s pause for a sec and make this a little personal for you…here are 4 reflection questions I want you to really think through as we think about God’s timing and and how we can speak truth cautiously but courageously. 

1. Where in your life do you need courage to speak truth in love?

   
   

2. Are there moments you’re rushing God’s timing? How could you let go and trust Him?

   
   

3. What gifts or skills do you have that you can start using right now, even if the stage isn’t perfect?

   
   

4. How do you respond when people forget you or overlook your efforts?

   
   

Alright, so now that you’ve had a moment to think about where you need courage, let’s chat about some takeaways—like, the real-life stuff we can actually do. Think of this as us sitting across from each other with a cup of tea, just unpacking what all this means for your life.

First up: Courage + Truth = God’s power in action. When Joseph spoke truth to the baker, he didn’t do it with bravado or ego—he did it with faith. And what happened? God moved.

Sometimes your words, spoken honestly and kindly, can have more impact than you even realize.

Next: Waiting isn’t wasted. God is still working. Joseph had to wait for the cupbearer to remember him. That could’ve felt like forever—but God was orchestrating behind the scenes.

Your waiting periods? Same deal. The quiet, the overlooked moments—they’re not nothing.

They’re the prep for your next move.

Alright, almost done… Next, Your gifts matter where you are. Joseph didn’t have to be in the palace yet, or in the “spotlight” to use the gifts God gave him. Same with you. Even when it feels small or unnoticed, God can use your talents and your voice right where you are.

And finally: Don’t freak out when others forget you—God never forgets. People might overlook your effort, dismiss your ideas, or forget your acts of kindness. It stings, but God sees it all. He remembers. He honors. He rewards.

So basically, the big picture? Courage, patience, and faithfulness are not just Bible stories—they’re your toolkit for navigating life, friends, school, and all the messy in-betweens.

Alright, my sweet squad, lets pray. Bow your heads and close your eyes! 

Father God, 

Thank You for every single girl listening today or who might listen in the future. 

Wherever she might be at in this exact moment.

Thank You that You see her courage, her voice, and her heart.

Help her to speak truth with love, even when it’s scary.

Teach her to wait well, trusting Your timing is perfect, even when it feels like life is stuck in a holding pattern.

Remind her that her gifts matter today, here, in this season—not just in the future.

Help her trust that You are working behind the scenes, and Your plan is always higher and better than her own.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Alright, superstar, cue the confetti—cause that’s a wrap!

If this episode encouraged you, share it! 

Screenshot, drop a review, text it to someone who needs a little courage today.

And if you’re thinking, “God, I’m ready for my life to move but I don’t see it…” remember Joseph. 

God is writing your story behind the scenes. Trust Him, speak boldly, and use your gifts now.

Until next time—keep showing up, speak truth, and wait well. God’s timing is perfect, and His plans are always worth it. 

And until next time, Stay Salty Sis!