Excerpt
God may be doing something unimaginable while we are still standing in the middle of the trial.
Intro
Sometimes life feels like a long stretch between promise and fulfillment. In those moments it is easy to wonder if heaven has gone quiet or if God has forgotten us. But the scriptures show something different. The journey from Point A to Point B is often where faith is tested and refined. Once we arrive at Point B, faith is no longer required in the same way.
Notes from the Speaker or Scripture
“He called down famine on the land
and destroyed all their supplies of food;
and he sent a man before them—
Joseph, sold as a slave.
They bruised his feet with shackles,
his neck was put in irons,
till what he foretold came to pass,
till the word of the Lord proved him true.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of peoples set him free.
He made him master of his household,
ruler over all he possessed,
to instruct his princes as he pleased
and teach his elders wisdom.”
Psalm 105:16–22 (NIV)
Joseph’s life moved through deep hardship before reaching its purpose. He spent years as a slave and prisoner, yet those years quietly prepared him for leadership that would later save nations.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained:
“Joseph must have wondered if God had forgotten him. God had something unimaginable in mind for Joseph. He used this period of trial to strengthen Joseph’s character and put him in a position to save his family.”
“God Will Do Something Unimaginable,” October 2020 general conference
Even during Joseph’s trials, scripture repeatedly reminds us that the Lord was with him (Genesis 39:2–3, 21, 23). Others recognized that divine help even when Joseph himself was still enduring difficulty.
Perspective
Many of us assume that comfort equals God’s approval and hardship means something is wrong. But the scriptures challenge that assumption. Nephi opened his record by acknowledging “many afflictions” while still declaring that he had been “highly favored of the Lord in all [his] days” (1 Nephi 1:1).
Lehi later taught Jacob that God can “consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain” (2 Nephi 2:2).
In my own experience, especially in difficult IT problems or long troubleshooting sessions, answers rarely appear immediately. The solution often emerges only after patience, teamwork, and persistence. Many times the breakthrough arrives when I least expect it. Looking back, I realize that what felt like delay was actually preparation. God was shaping the path while I was still learning to trust Him.
Practice (today, not someday)
Today I will remember that God sees the entire path even when I see only a small part of it. When challenges appear, I will trust that He is still present and still working through the process.
Final Reflection
Faith often grows strongest when we cannot yet see the outcome. What feels like delay may simply be the space where God is preparing something greater than we imagined.
Pocket I’m Keeping
God may be preparing something unimaginable.
What I Hear Now
“God had something unimaginable in mind for Joseph.” — Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
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