Joseph is not the only character in the story who waits. Waiting has a way of affecting all our minds, regardless of our disposition. For Pharaoh, his mind is troubled in the waiting. He seeks relief and clarity for things he cannot understand. But it’s also important to note where he turns amid his uncertainty. He first turns to the magicians and wise men of Egypt, not to YAHWEH.

Have you ever noticed where your mind goes in the waiting? Maybe in your frustration, you turn to things that are not helpful. Maybe in your stress, you look to other sources of power that cannot provide peace. Where or to whom do you turn when you are seeking comfort or relief?

Sometimes waiting reveals where we draw our strength. I’ve been guilty of turning to friends, social media, and even my own understanding for reassurance in the waiting. But something shifts when we turn to the One who can truly sustain us. Pharaoh eventually yields and turns to Joseph, a man of God filled with wisdom and discernment. Joseph doesn’t tell him what he wants to hear; he tells him the truth as he interprets the dreams. He points Pharaoh to God, even when Pharaoh isn’t looking for Him.

Maybe today you find yourself heading in one direction, and the Holy Spirit invites you to turn. Turn to the Lord. Turn to His ways. Turn to His Word. Everything we need is found in Him.

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength…” (Isaiah 40:31 ESV).

If you need strength, wait on the Lord. If you need understanding, seek Him. Today, I invite you to acknowledge the Lord in your waiting. He knows exactly what you need. We don’t need to keep looking to other people or places to sustain us. Everything we need is found in our surrender to Him.

Reflect and respond: How can you turn your posture to seek God in the waiting? What do you need to surrender in order to receive from the Lord?