When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh's officials who were in custody with him in his master's house, "Why are your faces so sad today?" Genesis 40:6-7
Joseph's life seemed pretty rotten. He was sold into slavery, and now he was imprisoned in the dungeon of a house he once managed. But despite his circumstance, Joseph was a compassionate man who could look beyond himself to the concern of others.
The king's cupbearer and baker were thrown in the same prison with Joseph, and Joseph was assigned to watch over them. One day Joseph noticed a difference in their countenance. They were unusually sad. Both men were distraught over dreams they had the night before. Joseph trusted the Lord, and he interpreted the dreams.
How amazing that Joseph even cared enough to ask! What would have happened if Joseph had been so focused on his own miserable circumstance that he didn't notice the sadness of these two men? The dreams would not have been interpreted. Eventually, the men would be gone from prison. The baker would be dead, and the cupbearer wouldn't have a story to tell when the time was right.
Lord, help me to always be aware of the needs of others despite my circumstance. Too often I am only focused on me and how I may feel, when there are others in need of encouragement. Forgive me for living a selfish life for so long. Give me the patience I need to bear the prisons into which I have fallen in my life. The day will come when I will be completely free. Until then, let me make a difference for those in my path along the way.