1 Peter 2:19  For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.

We have a tendency to expect positive results when we do the right thing.  Nothing wrong with that, but we must be aware that often that isn’t the case.  Peter is talking about us bearing up under the pain of unjust suffering because we are conscious of God – just like Joseph did.

Joseph refused to yield to the temptation presented by Potiphar’s wife.  Day after day she talked to him and he repeatedly refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.  When she caught him by his cloak one day, they were the only ones in the house and Joseph fled.  She proceeded to lie to Potiphar accusing Joseph of being the one wanting her.

It appears that Potiphar believed his wife for Scripture says, “he burned with anger.”  I’ve often wondered if he ever asked for Joseph’s side of the story – and would he have believed him if he did.  Potiphar then took Joseph and put him in prison.  Joseph did what was right and wound up in jail.  In spite of doing right, because he was conscious of God, he experienced even more pain of unjust suffering.

“But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” (Gen 39:20b, 21)  In the midst of it all, Joseph could see that God was there with him.

Do we understand the importance of maintaining a godly attitude and godly behavior when in trying situations?  We too can be falsely accused.  We can be fired or receive unfavorable treatment because we refuse to go along with illegal or unethical demands.  We can lose sales or clients because we are unwilling to lie or deceive.  We can face the loss of “friends” because we refuse to participate in activities that are sinful.  If our focus is Jesus, we will make the right decisions and do it with grace – not self-righteousness.  Our goal is to do it right.  Wherever we wind up, the Lord will be there with us.