Adversity and God

One of the sure things in life is that there will be countless concerns and adversity will visit time and time again. For those people who do not believe this fact, maybe it is only because you have not yet reached that point in life. Those who had had to face adversity, there are several things that we all have in common.

One of these commonalities is that each adversity can be viewed as a total setback, or as an opportunity to overcome the problem. There really is no other way to look at the issue. You either take the adversity square on the chin and fold, or you take the hit, keep standing, and find a way to move around the adversity.

Don’t Do It Alone
If you try and overcome adversity alone, you can have a bad time of it but if you turn to God as your first option, an option that gives you peace and strength to help you see the situation as different, you have a hope of getting through this problem. God also gives us strength to face challenges that come into our life.

And how we react to adversity can determine its impact on our life. Reading from the New Living Translation Bible, in James 1:19, it states:”Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”When we are faced with a situation and we follow this thought it could make all the difference in how we respond, and what we do.

Not To Be Feared
Adversity in and of itself is not to be feared – it is only the lack of knowing what to do, how to approach it, and what view for the future you hold that presents a concern. Adversity is nameless, blameless, and devoid of any emotion unless you give it.

When you decide that adversity has no power over your choices, and when you put your faith and trust in God, all adversities are no more than inconveniences that can be overcome.

And, there are always benefits in every adversity. They can build our character, they can actually make us stop and find the good in the situation. So don’t let them bring you down, move forward with faith and you will find strength to deal with any situation.

Power of God
Not everyone, unfortunately, has the natural ability to overcome issues of concern but with the power of God, there is hope in the form of friends or family to help you on your way. God did not plan for you to go into any situation alone and armed with his love and with your faith, you will be able to find those that will stand with you.

A church family can also be of great support. Find a church that you are comfortable with, one where there is care and concern for each other. To quote Rick Warren, “He created the church to meet your five deepest needs: a purpose to live for, people to live with, principles to live by, a profession to live out, and power to live on. There is no other place on earth where you can find all five of these benefits in one place.”

A Last Thought
The other aspect of adversity that is known to those who have the ability to know they have choices is that each occurrence of adversity is one, if not, the best teacher about life there is. There is no life that sees only good times where there are no valleys of despair or hurt. Life is not a bed of roses without the thorns being active.

Take heed in knowing that adversity need not rule you for it is you that rule adversity armed with God and your given talents and abilities to overcome.

A Wise Proverb
“Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.” Proverbs 17:17, from The Message Bible

Inspirational Quotes for Reflection:
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” Anne Bradstreet

“People who can ride through the toughest issues of life and remain calm are not indifferent; they’re just trusting God.” John MacArthur Jr.

“I am not saying that I wish your life to be one trouble after another: but when we go through the troubles, depending on the Lord and trusting in Him, without becoming despondent or bitter, the trials will be much easier to bear.” Julia Audrina Carrington

“From the little things that chip away at us every day to the big things that knock us off our feet, these circumstances leave us eagerly searching for peace, rest and safety. However, they can only be fulfilled in God.” Michelle Lynn Brown

“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Victor Frankl

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