Bloom where you're planted

I haven't written in a while because I've had covid. I'm still recovering, but doing much better overall.

Today a thought from my devotional stood out to me enough that I wanted to share it. I'm studying the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis. Like the famous Job, Joseph experienced one suffering after another for thirteen years, through no fault of his own. Instead of falling into depression or raging against the injustice, though, he just kept doing the next right thing. Wherever he was at, whether sold into slavery or unjustly thrown in prison, he continued to act with integrity and do his best at whatever was assigned him. Eventually, blessing came his way and he was put in charge of all of Egypt. He was given a wife who bore him two sons. The names he gave his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, show that his blessing outshone his suffering. When he named Ephraim, he said, "Certainly God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." In order to bear fruit, a plant must bloom. Joseph didn't wait for the ideal circumstances to bloom. He didn't use the excuse of his unjust suffering to wallow, or wait until his situation improved to try his best. In the midst of terrible trouble he just put one foot in front of the other and kept choosing the next right thing. It took a long time, but eventually it all paid off and his blessing far exceeded his suffering. 

Here's the thing: I don't know if at some point my blessing will exceed my suffering, at least on this side of heaven, but I can't wait for that to happen. I need to live here and now, doing the next right thing and taking the opportunities I'm given.