“For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” (Gen. 41:52)
God is glorified when we bring forth much fruit. “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit” (John 15:8) The husbandman knows how to prune the branch so it brings forth more fruit. This pruning process involves a subtraction. Losing something we want to keep; or, not getting something we would love to have is painful. Joseph lost a lot when he was sold into slavery by his brothers. His heart yearned for family and home. But God brought great good out of the great evil he endured.
God is not the author of life’s ills and men’s mistreatment of us; but He is the redeemer of it all. He knows how to make us fruitful in the land of our affliction. Count it all joy!