The Providence of God
The sermon Sunday discussed the important themes of the providence and sovereignty of God. Abraham Kuyper once said, "“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” When we understand that the Lord is sovereign and providentially ordering all of life's events, our perspective begins to change. This trust in the Lord's promises is what gave Joseph the ability to persevere through so many trials. Pastor Dan also spoke about the life of pastor George Mueller. Desiring God Ministries gave a helpful summary of Mueller's life and trust in the Lord during hard times: http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/a-taste-of-mueller-and-his-god.
As evidenced by the life of Joseph, obedience does not always equal everything being easy and good. However trust in God's sovereignty and providence gives us to hope to persevere when things do not make sense, because we trust in His grace toward us.