“He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand— but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation. The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.”
Genesis 40:21-23
Read Genesis 40:16-23, Psalm 13
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Devotional written by Samantha Aguirre, Young Adults Associate Pastor
WHEN IS IT MY TURN?
As an alumna of a small Christian college, I watched many of my friends, peers, and classmates graduate with more than one degree. No, I’m not talking about an education. I’m talking about what many people at faith-based colleges affectionately refer to as the “MRS. degree,” also known as “ring by spring.”
For years, I watched my closest friends and family members enter relationships, get engaged, get married, and have children, all while feeling the deep sentiments of “When will it be my turn?” “How long, O Lord?” “Have You forgotten me?”
The point of sharing this is not to invite pity but to honestly share the reality of waiting. Sometimes, others will experience what you desire most before you do. When others receive what you have been asking God for and praying for, it can trigger feelings of disappointment or even leave you wondering if God has forgotten you.
Joseph experienced this as he waited for the Lord’s rescue. He was ready and in position, waiting in prison to be set free. He faithfully served while imprisoned, interpreting dreams, and he witnessed the chief cupbearer’s restoration before his own. He watched someone he had helped experience the very thing he had longed for most. In the process of watching someone else be set free, Joseph was left waiting, not knowing when his own turn would come.
The text tells us that the cupbearer did not remember Joseph. He was forgotten.
You may not yet have what you’ve been waiting for in your hands. Maybe you’ve been on the sidelines, watching others experience their miracle while you wrestle with comparison and insecurity. Perhaps you are angry or disappointed, praying the same prayer again and again, asking God to show up in a specific area of your life.
When it feels like it’s everyone’s turn but yours, how do you respond? If you find yourself lamenting and waiting for your turn, there is room for you in the presence of God. He meets you right where you are.
Reflect and respond: Who can you celebrate or encourage during this season of waiting, rather than comparing? What do you need to lament in prayer?