Most of us are familiar with the history of Joseph. The drastic ups and downs in his life circumstances would cause many to become overwhelmed or even bitter if they would choose to indulge thoughts to foster such feelings. But not in the case of Joseph! Why not?

“After being sold into Egypt [Joseph] was at first favored and entrusted with great responsibilities; but suddenly, without any fault on his part, he was unjustly accused and cast into prison. But he is not discouraged. He trusts in God; and the purpose of his heart, the purity of his motive, is made manifest. The eye of God is upon him, a divine hand leads him, and soon we see him come forth from prison to share the throne of Egypt.

“Joseph’s checkered life was not an accident; it was ordered of Providence. But how was he enabled to make such a record of firmness of character, uprightness, and wisdom? It was the result of careful training in his early years. He had consulted duty rather than inclination; and the purity and simple trust of the boy bore fruit in the deeds of the man. The most brilliant talents are of no value unless they are improved; industrious habits and force of character must be gained by cultivation. A high moral character and fine mental qualities are not the result of accident. God gives opportunities; success depends upon the use made of them. The openings of Providence must be quickly discerned and eagerly seized upon.

“Young men, if you would be strong, if you would have the integrity and wisdom of a Joseph or a Daniel, study the Scriptures.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 321, 322. That’s how to turn difficult problems into opportunities to glorify God.

Remember the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus? They were close friends of Jesus, and in John chapter 11 we read that Lazarus became very sick. Human logic would assume that Christ, the Great Healer, would immediately rush to heal His friend. But He didn’t go to see him, and He even reported back, “This sickness is not unto death” (John 11:4). Why did He respond that way? What can we learn from this?

“The disciples were surprised that [Jesus] did not respond to the sad message, ‘He whom thou lovest is sick.’ Had Christ’s love changed?—No, no! and had Mary and Martha thought it had, they would have misjudged that tender, pitiful heart of human and divine love.”—The Youth’s Instructor, April 6, 1899.

“Christ’s two days’ delay after hearing that Lazarus was sick was not a neglect or a denial on His part. It was His purpose to remain where He was till the death of Lazarus took place, that He might give the people an evidence of His divinity, not by restoring a dying man, but by raising to life a man that had been buried.

“This should be an encouragement to us. We are sometimes tempted to think that the promise, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you,’ is not fulfilled unless the answer comes immediately when the request is made. It is our privilege to ask for special blessings, and to believe that they will be given us. But if the blessings asked for are not immediately granted, we are not to think that our prayers are not heard. We shall receive, even if the answer is delayed for a time.”—Ibid. [Emphasis added.]

“Christ knew that as [Mary and Martha] looked on the face of their dead brother, their faith in their Redeemer would be severely tried. Thus He was pruning the branches, that they might bring forth more fruit. He knew that because of the struggle through which they were now passing, their faith would shine forth with far greater power. He suffered every pang of sorrow that they endured. He loved them no less because He tarried; but He knew that for them, for Lazarus, for Himself, and for His disciples, a victory was to be gained. This crowning miracle was to give the seal to His mission and divinity.”—Ibid., April 13, 1899.

Jesus also knew that “as the result of this miracle, many souls would afterward be added to the church, the hearts of others would be steeled against Him and His work.”—Ibid., May 11, 1899.

Christ gently reproves Martha (and us) for worrying: “Why should you doubt my power? You have my word. If you will believe, you shall see the glory of God. Skepticism and unbelief are not humility. Implicit belief in Christ’s word is true humility, true self-surrender.”—Ibid., May 4, 1899. [Emphasis added.] When faced with such circumstances, do we steel our hearts against God and His providence, or do we patiently trust in His divine wisdom and guidance?

How about John the Baptist? The forerunner of Christ, the first to announce and identify Him as the Lamb of God, the one who even had the privilege to baptize Him—why was he allowed to languish unjustly in prison? Let’s see the bigger picture:

“Christ did not forget John. In the lonely prison He manifested himself to him, showing him that erelong He Himself was to suffer a most shameful, ignominious death. Not only that, but He was to bear the penalty of the transgression of the law of God, not to give men liberty to continue in sin, but to take away their inclination to sin, that they might not desire to transgress. Those who receive Christ are obedient to His commands; for His mind is given to them. He imbues them with His spirit of obedience, and they return to their loyalty.”—Ibid., April 6, 1899.

Those who indulge in resentment against God for the leadings of His divine providence should beware:

“God never urges any one on in wickedness. He never leads man to become desperate in his rebellion. He will not that any should perish, but that all should be saved. But He forces no one to accept the light. If, after bearing long with man, God sees that he will not submit, He leaves him to work out his natural hatred. He gives him up to the worst of all tyrants—self.”—Ibid., May 25, 1899. That’s not the kind of outcome we should desire! We need to trust and obey. God is looking at the bigger picture to save us.

I have an interesting personal testimony of how sore disappointment can turn out for the best. Two years after graduating from high school, while working part-time as a professional violinist and teacher, my great dream was to attend The Juilliard School, a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. It’s one of the most prestigious of such institutions in the world and would certainly launch my prospective career to be a full-time violinist in a fine orchestra. The sheer passion and intensity of my desire caused me to assume with great determination that this aim would surely come to pass, without a doubt.

So, I took the train from Washington to New York and promptly reported to Juilliard for the audition the next day.

While presenting one of the requested pieces, I was wholeheartedly absorbed in giving my very best and failed to stop playing when the main judge made a tapping noise on the table to interrupt midstream. I should have realized this was his way of telling me the sample was sufficient. Then, when he then repeated the tapping very loudly, I awakened to the serious need to stop and noticed also he had already become rather irate that I had not responded immediately the first time. From that point onward, the interview felt awkward and uneasy.

The acceptance rate to Juilliard is 8–10% from among all the applicants worldwide. In other words, 90–92% who audition simply don’t get in. A few weeks later, a letter came in the mail revealing that that majority included me. . . . Oh, no! I felt crushed and absolutely devastated. How could such a thing happen? It felt as if my entire future had been shattered!

So, I requested a copy of the written comments the judges had jotted down, to see what had gone wrong. One of the judges had written that I was “Borderline for admission.” Borderline!!? My frustration was keen. So close, yet so far! How could this be?

But a few years later I could see why. Had I been admitted to that school, the level of stress and even the entire course of my life would have been quite different:

Firstly, tremendous debt. Today, it costs US$83,892/year to attend Juilliard, and that’s if you live on campus. Back when I auditioned years ago, the option to live on campus and thus economize on housing did not even exist. So, besides tuition, books, and food for the 4-year program, I would have to rent a studio apartment in the city, which in that neighborhood costs today around US$2,500–$4,000/month. Of course, those costs were lower in previous years, but you get the idea. The expenses were already prohibitively high—virtually impossible for me without incurring enormous, decades-long student loan debt on a massive, overwhelming scale. Somehow, I had not really paused to consider that factor. I had been too busy—fervently, meticulously preparing for the audition with intense zeal and a one-track mind for the glory of an artistic endeavor.

Secondly, in contrast, the large university (over 600 miles away from home, in a small town in the midwestern state of Indiana) where I ended up going instead as my 2nd choice very warmly welcomed me at their audition. This place, too, had a highly prestigious music program—plus the same career goal was certainly able to be achieved through their course of study, and with far less debt.

The quieter atmosphere and surroundings were so pleasant and the people so kind, that in less than three years, my faith had blossomed to such an extent that I gave my heart to Jesus Christ. Yes, much to my surprise, there I was drawn to love Jesus—and ultimately, His seventh-day Sabbath, even more than my fervently cherished career goal. A completely new and refreshing perspective on life! My Creator and Redeemer, the Source of all gifts and strength, evidently had a different purpose for my entire existence. He knows what is best.

This personal experience had started off with a big disappointment which, of course, was rather small compared to that of the man born blind, to those unjustly cast into prison like Joseph and John the Baptist, or sick Lazarus being allowed to die. You likewise may have your own testimony to share. But whatever the case, we can all readily recognize in various people’s situations the handwriting of the same Almighty One, and “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

May we always trust in the vast wisdom of the awesome Creator who artistically designs and orchestrates with melodious lovingkindness the bigger picture! Amen.