“Only keep me in mind when it goes well with you, and please do me a kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon.” – Genesis 40:14-15

In Genesis, we read about how Joseph was forgotten and had to play the waiting game. Joseph was forced to languish in uncertainty for an extended period of time. But when his wait was over, Joseph was promoted beyond what he could have ever hoped or even dreamed. God not only made a way to provide Joseph his freedom again; God gave Joseph power, authority, significance and joy unlike any had ever experienced. God can do something similar with you if you will remain with Him in both heart and actions during your detours.

How do you know when you are getting close to exiting your detour and heading into your promotion? That would be when God does on your detour what you could never do on your own. During your detour you are trying to find you way to the main highway and simply trying to figure out what is going on. You are not able to get off the road you are traveling. God won’t let you escape. But there finally comes a time when He shows you a sign—maybe it’s a turn that opens up to the main highway, and you make it.

Often this is done through a way you had tried to do on your own before but were unsuccessful. Remember how Joseph tried to get the cupbearer to remember him? He asked him to remember him. He hoped he would remember him. But the cupbearer forgot him entirely. Only God did that precise thing a few years later. He caused the cupbearer to remember Joseph.

God is the One who is in control. Detours teach us this more than anything.

Check out more from Tony Evans @Tonyevans.org