My newest song “Joseph’s Song” was written when our family was walking through the wilderness, lost in the fog of waiting, wondering when God was going to answer our prayer.
My husband Jack had a 22 year career at TMobile doing a job he loved, which was shepherding and leading a team of people in the wireless phone industry.
On April 25, 2022, out of the blue, he got a phone call that he was being laid off, along with thousands of other TMobile employees. It was devastating. Jack not only lost a job that day, he lost a family of 22 years – people he had worked with and built deep relationships with. It felt like the rug of everything he built and poured himself into for half his lifetime had been ripped out from under him.
Jack is a light of positivity – that is my favorite quality about him. He always sees the hope, sees the positive, and he’s always been someone who says “don’t worry, it’s all gonna be okay”.
Jack very much believed something would come, that it wouldn’t be difficult to find another job based on his resume and 22 years of experience at TMobile.
But as the weeks and months began to roll by with zero doors opening, then the one year mark, then the 18-month mark and still no doors opening, then getting so close to a great opportunity in Dec 2023 making it through five rounds of interviews to being a final top two candidate, only to not be chosen … he hit rock bottom.
By January of 2024, things felt hopeless, and I began to see Jack experience depression and despair.
He felt forgotten by God, like this wilderness would never end. He told me at one point, “I feel like Joseph, forgotten, rotting in prison, wondering if the cupbearer will ever remember me.”
That parallel hit me so hard, and I spent time reading the story of Joseph in Genesis. Joseph was once thriving, in a leadership role, running Potifer’s household, then out of nowhere he gets betrayed, falsely accused and cast into prison. And there he sat, forgotten, as the years ticked by. Then the cupbearer got thrown in prison too, Joseph interpreted his dream, the cupbearer got restored to his position, and Joseph continued to rot in prison, forgotten. Then it says in Genesis 41 … “After 2 full years passed” … the cupbearer remembered Joseph. Joseph was called up from the dungeon and restored to an even greater leadership role, with Pharoah placing him in leadership over all of Egypt.
Only God could write this. On April 25, 2024 … TWO FULL YEARS LATER TO THE EXACT DAY … Jack received a phone call with a verbal job offer, informing him that he is their only candidate, his experience is a perfect fit for this role and they would love to have him on the team.
Jack had given up hope he would find a job that he would really enjoy. But God not only brought him a job, he has brought him his favorite type of role, leading a team, doing the thing he loved most in his career. We are completely overwhelmed. It seems too good to be true.
Only God could orchestrate this kind of story and timing.
This journey has been a reminder for us to never give up praying and waiting on the Lord. No matter how long it takes.
His will, His timing, never ours.
I’m reminded of this Scripture:
Psalm 13:
“Oh Lord, how long will You forget me? Forever?
How long will You look the other way?
How long must | struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, ‘We have
defeated him!’
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
But I trust in Your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because You have rescued me.
I will sing to the LORD because He is good to me!”
God is faithful. And He always writes a better story than we could.
JOSEPH’S SONG
Words & Music by Shelly E. Johnson & Sean Hill
© 2024 Shelly E. Johnson Music, Inc (BMI) / Uphill Creative Publishing (ASCAP) (Admin. by Music Services).
Verse 1
I feel like Joseph
Down in the dungeon
Wondering if You see me
Will the cupbearer
Ever remember
Who You have called me to be ?
PreChorus
All I did was obey
Yet all I got was betrayed
Lord, I don’t understand
Where is Your goodness ?
Chorus
Oh, am I forgotten
Lost and forsaken?
Oh, maybe You’re finished
Keeping Your promise
Has Your faithfulness run out ?
How do I trust You now ?
Verse 2
There was a day when
I wore a garment
Of the most beautiful colors
I was so gifted
Called and anointed
Walking in strength and so much favor
PreChorus 2
All these dreams in my heart
Yet here I sit in the dark
Lord, I don’t understand
Where is Your goodness ?
Chorus
Bridge
Do You still have a plan that will prosper
To give me a hope and a future?
Is prison just part of my story
That You’re still writing ?
Chorus
Oh, am I forgotten or forsaken?
Oh, maybe You’re finished
But You promised…
Final Chorus
Oh, I’m not forgotten
Never forsaken
Oh, You are not finished
Keeping Your promise
You’ve never let me down
No, You’ve never let me down
God, You’ve never let me down
Help me to trust You now
