Overcoming Adversity
Today, I want to talk about “adversity.” It’s not a popular subject, but it is a necessary one if we want to understand some of the challenges and difficulties we experience in this life.
The word adversity means to experience a difficult situation or unfortunate circumstance. In fact is has been said that, “The road to happiness is paved with adversities.” Meaning more than one event.
But, biblically speaking there a several different reasons that we may face adversity.
One of the reasons we face adversity is due to the fact that we live in a fallen world where sin not only exists, but often rears its ugly head.
You see, in the beginning when Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden they immediately began to feel the adverse effects of their sin against God. Which we still experience today, because we like them are inclined to want to live our life our way instead of the way God designed us to live. Healthy and whole!This was a sin of their own making, in which they immediately experienced the adverse effects of the sin which caused them to be separated from God’s original design for them in the Garden of Eden.
Today, we too often suffer the adverse effects of our own sin, but the good news is that these adverse effects are designed by God not to punish us as His children but rather to discipline us and return us to right standing before Him.
We do this by humbling ourselves before Him, confessing our sin or sins and repenting of them leaving the desire to repeat such offenses before God behind. Now that doesn’t always mean a one and done though it could be, but it does mean that though I may waver or even falter I don’t stay stuck there.
I recognize my sinful pattern before God and repent once again and get on walking in His righteous ways.
Now this is not to presume upon the grace of God wrongly thinking that we have license to sin and be forgiven. Rather, in rightly understand that some sin simply takes greater understanding of who God is and what He desires for and from us and more diligent prayer regarding that sin. Then listen to His small still spirit enabling us to take actionable steps to choose to walk in His righteous ways while denying our sinful pleasures.
Yet, there are also times that we as Christians, children of God face adversity not because of our own sin but because of the sin of others. You see, when others around us in our families, friendships or place of business etc. choose to walk in sins ways, they not only suffer but so do those around them.
Perfect case and scenario is when a loved one or coworker suffers the sin of addiction. Everyone involved suffers to some extent mentally, emotionally, physically, financially and some times spiritually.
Seek Professional Help!
And what about in the case of infidelity or divorce. The whole family suffers the adverse effects. In fact that is why the bible explains such sins as a tearing of the flesh. A pain that tears at the heart of everything that God has established and called His good and perfect will for His people.
That is why it is so important to seek qualified Christian help such as a Pastor or Christian Counselor.
And then there are times that we as Christians will suffer the adverse effects of this world not because of what we have done wrong, but rather because of what we have done that is right in the eyes of the LORD.
In fact, Peter, the Apostle of Jesus Christ says in I Peter 4:12-19, “Dear Friends do not be surprised by the fiery ordeal that has come to you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Jesus Himself says in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble!”
Jesus is often referred to in the Scriptures as the man of sorrows? And if Jesus who knew no sin faced adversity, how much more will we?
James 1:2 instructs us as God’s people to, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials (or adversity) of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
This verse teaches us that our pain or adversity has a purpose. And its purpose is to conform us into the image of God.
So, we learn that no one is immune to suffering. In fact, the Scriptures promise it!
So, what do we do with it? Do we stuff it down and live with it? Do we deny it’s even a thing?
No! The spiritually healthy thing to do with any adversity we face whether of our own making or making of another is to take it to the LORD in prayer.
I Peter 5:6-7 instructs us to, “Humble ourselves before the LORD that in due time He might lift us up in due time. In the meantime, we are too as verse 7 says, “cast all our cares (the things that concern us), our anxieties, (the things that trouble us) on HIM because He cares for you.”
Yet, it’s easy to sometimes grab ahold of wrong thinking as we face or go through times of adversity that God doesn’t see us or has forgotten us. But this is faulty thinking!
God promises to never leave you or forsake you! So hold onto the truth and know that God’s got you! Then call out to Him or cry out to Him, and seek His wisdom, His help, and He will deliver you in His time and in His way, according to His good and perfect will!
Remember that God knew you before you were even a thought in your parents mind and He not only numbered your days but He knows what each days brings and He can handle whatever difficulties you face, whether or your own making or the making of others. In fact, He delights to make things right in His eyes and in His way.
You see, God has not called us to ignore our pain or suffering or to ignore the pain and suffering of others. God has called us to weep over our sins and the sins of others. He has called us to mourn as others mourn!
Our world is filled with injustice, poverty, war, and rebellion against God, all of which should move us to tears and to action.
What causes you to cry or to be moved to tears?
Do you weep over you own sin? Or over the sins of those around you? Over the sins of the world at large?
Might we learn to grieve as God grieves over the sins of His people.
Might we cry out to God in truth and in pain. Might we seek His presence and His ever present help.
Because He suffered we too will suffer, but in it we can take our pain, our sufferings and our disappointments to God.
Remember that God compassionately hears the anguished cries of His suffering people who face times or seasons of adversity
There are many scriptures that would support this truth but the one that I want to point you to is from Psalms 38:18: The LORD is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit. The LORD is close to the broken hearted and He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
What truth about God brings hope into a situation that feels hopeless?
Cry out to God and share with Him the deep pain and anguish that you are experiencing and then remember God’s steadfast love and faithfulness!
Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “throw off everything that hinders us, and the sin that so easily entangles” and “run with perseverance.” But how do we throw off the sin weighing us down? By seeking God and His perfect provision of forgiveness through His Son, Jesus Christ. By His stripes we have been healed and therefore Jesus is the only one who can set us free from the pervasive sin in our lives.
My prayer is that we learn to fix our heart, our minds on Jesus, for He is the way, the truth and the life!