We all love a redemption story. We like to look at the successful businessman, flashback twenty years and see how he rose from poverty and emerged into excellence. However, it is hard to see that happy ending if you start the story from the beginning. If you introduce the situation as hopeless, difficult and hard it is impossible to sit contently without guarantee of that happily ever after. I’m certain that Joseph was not even capable of imaging the heights to which he would rise while he was being sold into slavery by those he loved or sitting in jail for years in suffering. That is because it is hard to see through suffering. We want to embrace suffering; we want to indulge in it because it feels good. Perhaps from the perspective of the Potter, God is trying to send us a message during those times. Life will present us with a thousand ways to suffer, but it is in that process that we are made to glorify Christ. It is only in battle that we can find victories. It is only in battle that we build our strength, break down our pride and learn a love for Christ that would not be possible if we were only ever made to sail smooth seas. I must daily keep my eyes on Christ, running the race with patience and persistence and never losing hope. I believe one of Satan’s greatest weapons is coaxing us to stay, running in circles, focusing on suffering when we are to keep our eyes on the finale God has for us; the ultimate redemption story.