How to Be Used By God

Genesis 40:1–3, 6-7 (ESV) Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined.
... 7 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?”

Something beautiful happens when Joseph hits rock bottom. He starts being sensitive to the plights of others. One of the benefits of our trials is that they open our eyes to the reality of pain so that when others come under the same misfortune we have eyes to see them and hearts that go out to them. 

The teenage Joseph might never have noticed the cup-bearer's and chief baker's downcast faces before. Consumed with is own dreams and plans, Joseph was totally oblivious to the seething rage of his brothers toward him as he spouted off his grandiose ideas. This Joseph, however, has been seasoned with affliction. He's starting to become someone God can use to heal others.

Secondly, notice the serving mentality of Joseph. Upon learning that their dreams trouble them, Joseph seeks to ease their minds. He doesn't recoil at the thought of how his life has done only the opposite of his boyhood dreams. Again, it seems counterintuitive to us because usually we think the way we can help people is only by being important or in charge. Joseph is neither, and yet here is going to be the most helpful he's been toward someone else thus far, free of charge. He's learning obedience to God through what he suffered... that sounds familiar.

It would be so much more fun if we could learn to help others while we are on the upswing moments of our lives. It just doesn't work that way. The human condition, tainted with original sin is always looking out for #1 to see what else could make them "like God." The flesh and the devil try to convince us that only when we make it to the top of our lives will we be of any use to anyone. That significance and value is determined by what I do for ourselves is the root of the world's predicament and the cause of all our troubles.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Those whom God would use greatly, He must wound greatly.  The theme of such activity by God upon our lives is encapsulated beautifully in this anonymous poem:

When God wants to drill a man, And thrill a man, And skill a man
When God wants to mold a man To play the noblest part;

When He yearns with all His heart To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed, Watch His methods, watch His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him, And with mighty blows converts him

Into trial shapes of clay which Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying And he lifts beseeching hands!

How He bends but never breaks When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses, And which every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him To try His splendor out-God knows what He’s about.

Your pain is the process by which God perfects you for His purpose in fallen creation. Suffering removes the pious me-centered self that was born in the Garden of Eden and unites us with the Christ of selfless service in the Garden of Gethsemane. It's not pleasant but it is always good in the end.