In our Torah portion this week, VaYeishev, we tell the story of Joseph and his journey as one of Jacob's twelve children, shepherds in the land of Canaan, on route to becoming one of the most powerful and respected men in Egypt. Joseph's journey was a difficult one. He experienced tragedy and trials along the way; his mother Rachel died when he was very young. He was thrown into a pit and sold into slavery by his brothers. Joseph was falsely accused of sleeping with the wife of a prominent Egyptian and thrown into prison. There were so many opportunities where Joseph could have been angry and gotten frustrated; moments when he could have complained, lost all hope, and given up. Nevertheless, with each and every set back that Joseph experienced, he never gave up. He always persevered, and always found a way to pick himself back up. Because of what he experienced, Joseph emerged stronger and more prepared for the challenges that lay ahead, ultimately enabling him to thrive as the savior of Egypt and his family.
Like Joseph, we all experience setbacks and bumps in the road. In the midst of those moments, it's easy to feel sorry for ourselves, embrace victim-hood or bad fortune, and simply stew in our anger. But like Joseph, we too owe it to ourselves to persevere, and to move forward. Like Joseph, we should not let unfortunate experiences and moments when we fall deep into a dark pit define who we are. Rather, we should be encouraged by our strength and persistence to pick ourselves back up. Doing so will enable us to move forward stronger, and more prepared for the challenges that lay ahead, than we were before.
