Text: Genesis 40:14-23
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10
NFL quarterback Brock Purdy doesn’t shy away from sharing how his Christian faith keeps him grounded. Nicknamed “Mr. Irrelevant” due to being the last pick of the 2002 NFL Draft (262nd overall), Purdy knows what it’s like to be overlooked. After his senior year of high school, Alabama coach Nick Saban told Purdy, a recruit at the time, what he was lacking as a quarterback. “You’re below average in height. Your arm strength is whatever. Your accuracy is average,” was Saban’s critique.
Yet the rookie is a perfect 8-0 since taking over as the 49ers QB, and he even leads the NFL in touchdown passes, yards per pass attempt, and passer rating in that span. Now, Mr. Irrelevant is only one win away from reaching heights no other rookie QB has ever reached. He’d be the lowest-drafted QB to ever start a Super Bowl. It was an improbable road to even get to this point after starting the season as the 3rd string QB. But Purdy has made good on his opportunity to shine and has surely proven many doubters wrong along the way.
I imagine it would’ve been easy for Joseph to feel like Mr. Irrelevant sitting in an Egyptian prison cell. He had been unjustly jailed to begin with, and just when it looked like he would catch a break by interpreting the dream of one of Pharaoh’s servants, he was left on read. The last thing Joseph told the cupbearer was: “Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house.” But the cupbearer “ghosted” Joseph.
Sounds simple, right? Just remember me and make mention of me when it all goes well with you. That doesn’t sound like much to ask of someone you just helped. Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him—not just for a little while, but for two whole years! Joseph had gifts and talents to bring to the table but was… forgotten. He had leadership value that was overlooked. He had skills that were not being recognized.
Nevertheless, God has a way of making a way for us when it seems our path is irrelevant, and what that looked like for Joseph was a huge promotion. He would eventually be lifted from the prison cell to become second in command over all of Egypt and serve as a life-saving administrator for multitudes during years of famine.
You might feel undervalued and underappreciated right now. Perhaps you’re caught up in a season or place that looks irrelevant. Maybe you’re putting so much into a relationship, and it doesn’t get reciprocated. Maybe your hard work is being overlooked or you feel forgotten. Similar to that of Joseph’s story, you might even find yourself in circumstances where it appears God isn’t rewarding your integrity and you’re tempted to compromise because, what difference does it make anyway?
We can learn from Joseph’s story that everything is relevant in our lives. The betrayal, the dark pits, the personal attacks, the lonely seasons, and yes, even those dark prison cells—they matter. There are no irrelevant parts of our lives with God at the center. We are never truly forgotten, we are never truly abandoned, and we are never truly overlooked. God is always using the stuff we go through to prepare us for a very purposeful outcome. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving everything in my life meaning, value, and purpose, even when others don’t see it. I trust the story you are writing through the redemptive work of Christ, even in those difficult places of feeling forgotten and overlooked. In His name, Amen.
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:
- What have been the moments or experiences in your life that seem irrelevant?
- When have you felt overlooked, underappreciated, or forgotten?
- What does Joseph’s story teach us about God, ourselves, and the Gospel?
- Is there something you need to do this week to refocus your faith on the goodness of God?