Do you think of adversity as one big monkey wrench?
Adversity… it comes as that ugly issue that pops up on the radar screen just when life is good. I mean really good. Then… sure enough… here it comes… out of nowhere adversity strikes… and you’re left to try to pick up the pieces.
What’s up with that? I mean, if things were really great and I didn’t do anything wrong, why me? Ha! Believe it or not, there’s a good reason and you should be very thankful!
Here are the 3:
- You’re experiencing adversity because God loves you. What? Yep, God loves you and is preparing you for something even greater than what you had before. Don’t you want more awesome-ness? I know I do!
- This too shall pass. Yep, this is just a temporary condition. Each and every day we’re blessed. Some days it may seem like some pretty trivial stuff. Be content! And thankful, whatever the circumstances. Even if all that you have to be thankful for one day is 3 meals, that’s huge! Praise God!!
– It is through adversity that our character is strengthened. There’s no easy way around it. Remember our friend King David?… speaking of David… “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7. Only God can see into your heart… the place where your true character resides. The rest of us only get a glimpse. God builds our character through adversity.
And that’s why I believe we should be thankful whenever we face adversity. Being thankful for adversity takes guts. You have to be resilient. Clutching to God is a good thing when adversity shows up. Go ahead, you’ll end up better for it and closer to him.
When was the last time you felt blindsided by adversity? Can you see how God may have turned it out for your good?
My husband and I often comment on how God has taken care of us so well that there is no adversity in our lives. But then we stop and think about the amazing number of lost loved ones, how we’ve been with friends and family through cancer–seeing some of them lose the battle; we’ve had our share of financial, parenting and health issues. So God’s been putting adversity in our lives, but maybe because we are able to face them together and face them with God, they don’t “feel” like the adversity that might cripple others.
This is not a “wow-look-how-well-I-handle-life” statement. It’s a statement about how God can take us through things so well that adversity doesn’t feel so adverse.
This is an important post, Chris. Well done.
Very true Carol, I can see that in my own personal walk and in the lives of other people who are strong in their faith… the storms are much easier to weather when you are close to God. Thanks for sharing this important thought!
I always have “This too shall pass” going through my mind when I face adversity, a trial, or a challenge. I know often God is working it out to allow me to become a better person, though while going through it, it can be very hard. Great thoughts!
“This too shall pass” … I always want to attribute that to Anne Frank as she uses the phrase in one of Andy Andrews’ books…
“This too shall pass” … whenever I think of the big picture… the great book of life… whatever adversity that I’m facing at the time seems pretty small… I need to keep it in perspective, as best I can… there really is so very much to be thankful for 🙂
Thanks Dan, I appreciate you bro!!