Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
Genesis 39:20-21 NIV
There is nothing in this world worth holding on to if it threatens God’s presence in our lives. For the believer, this is not merely a poetic statement but a guiding truth. Genesis 39 offers a powerful example through the life of Joseph—a man whose heart remained anchored in God’s presence even when everything else was stripped away.
When Potiphar heard his wife’s false accusation against Joseph, he responded with fury and had Joseph imprisoned. What should have marked a crushing setback instead became a divine setup. Even behind bars, God’s presence remained with Joseph. This demonstrates a profound truth—our circumstances do not define the worth of God’s presence, but by our consecration.
Joseph’s story reminds us that God’s presence does not depart in hardship. He doesn’t withdraw when we are misunderstood, falsely accused, or abandoned. Rather, He abides with those who walk in integrity. Joseph had no secret sin to sever his connection with God. There was no hidden compromise. Therefore, God had no reason to turn away. The purity of Joseph’s heart preserved divine communion, even in a prison cell.
The enemy’s tactic wasn’t just temptation—it was separation. Potiphar’s wife was a vessel through which the devil sought to lure Joseph into sin, not only to discredit him but to disconnect him from God’s presence he carried. The devil understood that Joseph’s strength and future hinged on the presence of God. Losing that presence would have cost Joseph everything, even if his external position remained intact.
But Joseph chose rightly. He esteemed the worth of God’s presence above fleeting pleasure and temporary comfort. His resistance wasn’t only a moral victory—it was a spiritual triumph. He knew what was truly at stake. Sin may appear momentary, but its consequences reach far beyond the moment. It disrupts fellowship, corrodes faith, and pushes the presence of God to the margins of our lives.
Joseph’s unwavering commitment bore fruit, even in confinement. The warden saw something different in him and entrusted him with the running of the prison. “The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did” (Genesis 39:23, NIV). The favour Joseph received was not circumstantial; it flowed from the same source—the presence of God.
What Joseph experienced is available to us today. If we prioritise purity over compromise and intimacy over indulgence, God’s presence will remain with us, regardless of the storms we face. We may not always be in control of our environment, but we are responsible for our obedience.
So, let us ask ourselves: What are we clinging to that may be diminishing the worth of God’s presence in our lives? Is it pride, bitterness, lust, or fear? Whatever it is, it’s not worth the trade. Let it go. Choose His presence. Guard it with reverence and humility.
In a world that measures success by visibility and power, may we be a people who measure success by nearness to God. For when we honour His presence, He honours our path. And even in the lowliest places, He brings forth His favour, because where He is, there is always life, purpose, and peace.
Living It Out
What are you holding on to that might be costing you God’s presence? Let go. Prioritise purity. Choose obedience. Value intimacy with the Lord above all else. When you make His presence your dwelling place, success will follow—not as the world defines it, but as heaven measures it: faithfulness, favour, and fruitfulness in every season.
May our lives speak, even in hidden places, that the Lord is with us.