Dec 2, 2025
7 min read
Christmas is fast approaching, and for many of us this season can feel like anything but merry and bright. This time of year can be exciting, but it can also stir up anxiety we’d rather avoid.
Maybe it’s the financial pressure of gifts, travel, or hosting. Maybe it’s family dynamics that turn holiday tables into emotional minefields. It could be the busy schedules that push us to burnout, or unrealistic expectations that whisper we’re supposed to create the “perfect” holiday. Some feel social anxiety… others feel the sting of loneliness, especially if they’re separated from loved ones. And for many, grief and loss feel heavier during the holidays than any other time of year.
The truth is—life has tough moments. Sometimes tough moments become tough months, and even tough years.And when we lose focus, the weight of it all can quietly take a toll on us.
Though, there’s a story in Scripture that gives us a roadmap through seasons like this: the story of Joseph. And Joseph’s story? It’s not a quick trip from problem to promise—it’s a long, uneven, painful road to restoration.
Joseph, favored by his father, starts out with a robe, a dream, and probably a bit too much confidence for his brothers’ liking. The jealousy in his family bubbled over until his own brothers sold him into slavery. He went from the safety of his father’s home… to a pit… to Potiphar’s house… to prison… all because of betrayal, lies, and circumstances outside his control.
Talk about a holiday gathering gone wrong.
But even in those dark chapters, Scripture repeats
a powerful phrase:
“The Lord was with Joseph.”
And that truth—simple but steady—carried him through his road of heartache and into healing, restoration, and purpose.
As we walk through Joseph’s story, we see four things he held onto that carried him toward restoration. And if you’re in a tough season, these might be exactly what your heart needs today.
Joseph was knocked down more times than most of us can count—betrayed by family, falsely accused, forgotten in prison. And yet, every single time… he got back up.
Life isn’t always “up and to the right.” There are medical diagnoses, broken relationships, financial pressure, wayward kids, and disappointments that blindside us. But resilience—the decision to rise again—is what keeps us from staying stuck.
You may not like where you are right now. You may feel overlooked, forgotten, or weighed down. But God is not done with you. Your story doesn’t end in the pit. Get up. Keep moving. And when you don’t have the strength, ask God for His. Joseph shows us that resilience is a choice—and a key part of the road to restoration.
Joseph’s journey from the pit to the palace took 13 years. Thirteen long years of silence, setbacks, and wondering if things would ever change.
Waiting can feel unbearable. We live in a culture that craves instant results, but God works in seasons, not seconds. When nothing seems to be happening, it doesn’t mean God is absent. Sometimes the silence is where He heals us, shapes us, and strengthens us.
If your process feels slow… take heart. God is working even when we don’t see it. The road to restoration can take longer than we expect, but His timing is always right.
One of the most beautiful moments in Joseph’s story happens long before he reveals himself to his brothers. When he sees his younger brother Benjamin, he tells his steward to prepare a meal.
You don’t cook a meal for the people you’re bitter toward.
Joseph had done the internal work. He had wrestled with the pain, the abandonment, the betrayal. He didn’t ignore it or bury it. He processed it, forgave, and allowed God to heal what had been broken.
You and I can’t move into our future if we’re imprisoned by our past. A right heart—one willing to forgive, willing to let go, willing to heal—is essential on the road to restoration.
In Potiphar’s house…
In the prison…
In the palace…
The same truth echoed: “The Lord was with Joseph.”
God didn’t just meet Joseph in success—He met him in suffering. And He meets us the same way. You may feel forgotten, but God sees you. You may feel alone, but He’s closer than you think. You may feel stuck, but He is already working behind the scenes.
After years of struggle, Joseph names his firstborn Manasseh, meaning “God has made me forget my trouble.” His second son is Ephraim, meaning “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
We all want the Ephraim blessing—fruitfulness, purpose, wholeness.
But you can’t have Ephraim without Manasseh.
Manasseh is the inner work.
The forgiveness.
The letting go.
The healing.
The release of what has held you back.
Joseph shows us that restoration begins inside long before it shows up outside.
Maybe this holiday season finds you on a road you never asked to be on. Maybe you’re carrying pain you’ve never dealt with. Maybe you’re tired, anxious, or overwhelmed.
But Joseph’s story reminds us:
Your road doesn’t have to end where you are. God can restore what was broken.
He can redeem the years that felt wasted.
He can bring purpose out of pain.
He can lead you into healing, freedom, and new beginnings.
This might be your moment—your own Manasseh moment—to let go, to breathe again, to trust God with the places that hurt.
The road to restoration is real.
And you don’t walk it alone.
If you’re in need of a Manasseh moment, to trust God with the broken pieces of your heart in this season, listen to the video below: