Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. Genesis 39:8-12

Though I’ve never done it myself, I am told that even well trained boxers wear out quickly with little punches to the midsection. They’ve trained and trained and trained to take the punches but in real life action, small punches take their toll.

Joseph knew beyond a doubt what was his and what wasn’t. He was in a difficult situation. If he had gone to Potiphar and told him what was going on, he could have been punished for accusing the woman. Instead he had to endure these little punches knowing that one day he would fall. She was relentless in her pursuit of him. It was just bound to happen. Could he have guarded himself against such people? Probably not. As a slave, he had very little control over what he could or couldn’t do.

The takeaway is broad today. Life wears us down. Day after day discouraging and harsh words, voices and people pulling you in different directions, and life pressures are those little shots to the midsection.

Fortunately we can renew our minds every single day. Start off by feeding your mind and soul with the Word of God. It’s an excellent way to absorb and deflect those shots.