Adversity

   

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The amazing thing about adversity is that, although it is a natural part of our lives, we usually react like it is unnatural and unexpected. We frequently exclaim:  “I can’t believe that I have so many problems to deal with.” “Why me?” “What did I do to deserve this?” Sound familiar? It is to most of us. The most important thing to remember about adversity is first and foremost: It is a natural part of life.

 

            Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.^[1]

 

            Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.^[2]

 

Once we realize this, we will be better equipped to handle the adversity in our lives. It changes our attitude. We acknowledge that it is a natural part of life and, therefore, something that is to be expected and overcome. We start off with a positive attitude which gives us additional energy, rather than with a negative attitude which drains us of our energy. We begin to look at ways to tackle the problem, no matter how large or small it may be.

 

 

Attitude Is Everything

 

We can also view this problem as a challenge or opportunity and understand that this difficult period will pass. Once we understand these two concepts, then we tend to view the adversity as it actually is: we do not underestimate or overestimate the problem. This means we logically analyze the situation. Once we begin our analysis, we will usually find the solution. For instance, let us use this analogy to further understand.

 

A single woman has just received a report from her bank of insufficient funds in her checking account. She has no money left in her savings account. First of all, let’s start off with the facts: (1.) She may bounce some checks which will cost her  more money; and (2.) She has nothing to fall back on. This situation is serious and common. If she underestimates the problem, her bank will bounce the checks and she will be in a deeper financial situation. If she overestimates the problem, she will have imagined herself in prison for bouncing checks, with her credit, social stature and life totally ruined. Now both of these attitudes are wrong. In the first, she can not do anything except allow the adversity to control her because she does not understand it. In the second, she will not do anything and allow the adversity to control her because she feels it is hopeless. However, if she judges the problem appropriately, she can take control of the situation and learn from it. Perhaps she can borrow the money from the bank on a ninety-day basis, or ask her parents for a loan, or get a wage advance from her employer. Then she can take this adversity and learn from it. She could cut her expenses, possibly by taking lunch to work each day rather than by eating out, and add the funds to her savings account. Then she would be better prepared the next time she had a financial problem. What determines which action she will take? Her attitude. In each scenario, the situation is still the same but her attitude is different.

 

Some of the adversity we face is because of our actions and some are not. In the above illustration, the woman faced the financial problems because she had overextended her finances and had not saved any money for emergencies. She could have prevented this from happening. Sometimes we are a total victim to our circumstances. People are destroyed financially because of natural disasters, deaths of their spouse, and huge medical bills. These are not situations that they could have foreseen. Yet they are still facing the difficulties. Therefore we should always remember that you may not be able to do anything about the situation you find yourself in, but you can do something about your attitude.

 

One way to control your attitude is to ask yourself, “Will this truly be important fifty years from now?” If the answer is no, then you can relax some. This simple question allows you to understand that adversity comes in and our of our lives. It is temporary.

 

            Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.^[3]

 

            For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.^[4]

 

 

Look For The Positive In The Negative

 

There is good in everything, including adversity; however, sometimes it is difficult to find and harder to understand. Take the story of two men who had fallen into a deep hole.

 

The first man to fall in the hole climbed out of the chasm very angry, cursing God and complaining of his bad fortune and the time he had to spend in the muddy, rocky hole. The second man who had fallen into the same hole climbed out of the same hole laughing and praising God for revealing the gold mine to him. What was the difference between the two? One man only saw mud and rocks. The second man saw gold ore amongst the mud and rocks. When you are in a deep hole, look for gold ore amongst the rocks and dirt.

 

Sometimes it may be difficult to find good in the adverse situation; however, we can always find something good in life. Thank God for what He has given you! Concentrate on the good things that are in your life and the adversity will not be as overwhelming and hopeless. How can you be hopeless with so much goodness from God? Life may be difficult but God is still a loving, merciful, kind God.

 

            Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.^[5]

 

As a Christian, we are admonished to, Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.^[6] Christianity is not for wimpy, skittish people. It is for people with determination, courage, and fortitude. People who are willing to follow the example that Christ set before them as he faced persecution, torture and death.

 

            For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live righteousness: by whose strips ye were healed.^[7]

 

As the Scripture reveals, Christ did not complain, threaten and curse during his adversity. He trusted God to bring Him through the ordeal victorious. His victory became our victory over adversity. By following His example, we will be victorious because God will give us the strength, trust and confidence which Christ had.

 

 

Adversity Forms Character

 

Proverbs 24:10 gives us a simple but profound truth:  If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. How big or small is your strength? As with most people, you are probably a lot stronger than you realize.

One of the world’s most precious substances, diamonds, is formed under extreme pressure. Once formed, diamonds are the most brilliant and the hardest substance on earth. True character, just like diamonds, is formed under extreme pressure. Once formed, it is very valuable, strong and beautiful.

 

A person’s character, or lack thereof, is revealed during adverse conditions. Anyone can put on a smile and be genteel and kind while things are going well; it is more difficult, however, to be a good and virtuous person when things are not going well. A man’s true identity is revealed in adversity. The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.^[8] Just as the refining processes for silver and gold reveals and removes the impurities, adversity reveals the impurities in our hearts.

 

It is also during the rough times of our lives where we grow and mature. Think of your muscles. They can grow so weak from disuse that they will actually shrivel up and pull away from the bones which support them. However, if we exercise them regularly, they become stronger and can do more work and will suffer less injury while completing more difficult tasks. Character is the same way. What is character? We find the answer in Romans 5:3-5:

 

            And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

 

Character is a combination of patience, experience, hope, and the love of God within us that is revealed to others during difficult times. Anyone can be patient when things are happening as they wish. The worst people can share hope when they know that everything will end well. You and I can easily love others who love us. Only character allows you to be patient during tribulation, hope when all seems bleak and love the undeserving person.

 

God allows adversity in our lives to help us to grow and mature, as well as to reveal the areas in our lives and hearts that need the most attention, prayer and development. But the God of grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.^[9]

 

 

You Can Overcome Anything

 

You can overcome adverse situations if you choose to do so. Always remember, a man’s success does not have to be affected by the quantity of adversity he faces. Some of the most successful people have had to overcome the most adverse conditions. The difference between these successful people and those who fail is that some had determination and some did not. Those who succeeded were determined not to fail. Do you have that determination?

 

When America was a new country travel was very difficult. The roadways we now take for granted did not exist. The pioneers had to start at the beginning and make the best of what they had. Many of our roadways initially started as animal paths that meandered around the countryside, taking the path of least resistance for the animal. Pioneers on horseback and then wagon trains widened these pathways to become narrow roads. When the car was invented, these narrow roads were used initially. However, these roads did not lead to fast and effective travel. It took too long to maneuver these twisting roadways. The government then developed a plan to build more effective roadways that would shorten and speed up the travel between areas. However, to do this, they had several obstacles in some areas: the mountains. For each mountain they had to determine if they would (1) go around it; (2) go over it; or, (3) go through it. The mountain was not going to simply move itself out of the way. Man had to overcome the mountain to get where he wanted to go.

 

How about you? What is your mountain you need to overcome to reach your goal? Are you going to go around it, go over it, or go through it? Or are you going to let it stop you? The answers to these simple questions will determine if you will overcome adversity or if you will let it defeat you. That is the difference between success and failure.

 

 

Give The Battle To God

 

When we add God’s assistance to our determination, we are guaranteed success in overcoming anything. As Christians, we have assistance that non-Christians do not have:  we have God and His Power, Wisdom, Strength and Provisions to help us. We are unconquerable when we depend upon Him!

 

            The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.^[10]

 

Verse 17 assures us that God will deliver us from all our troubles, not some. You have no problem that God can’t help you overcome. If God is for you, who can be against you - except yourself? If we are not careful, we can become the greatest obstacle in God’s plan for our lives.

 

Many people believe that once they accept the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ that they will no longer have problems. A lot of times, Christians perpetuate this myth. We tell people, “Come to Jesus and your life will be wonderful. Jesus will take away your problems.” To the secular mind, this translates to “Come to Jesus and you will have no more problems.” However, this is far from the truth; even as Christians, we will have many problems. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psalms 34:19 warns us that Christians have lots of problems, but it goes further. It assures us that God will deliver us from all of them. That is what we need to communicate to others.

 

We need to let them know that adversity is part of life. However, as Christians we can count on God to help us overcome adversity when it does come. Rather than creating weak, newborn Christians who implode because they are not counting on God when the unexpected problems arise, we should be training them to lean on God and He will deliver them. Remember, God did not miraculously deliver the Israelites from Egypt and transport them to the Promised Land overnight. He took them through the wilderness and met every need they had.

 

            God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.^[11]

 

 

Make Sure The Battle Is Yours?

 

How many times have you heard someone say, “That’s not my problem.” It is easy to ignore a problem when it is not yours. It is easy to turn and walk away from a battle in which you are not engaged. It is also more exciting to stand around and encourage the combatants to fight harder and win. It is also wrong.

 

We have all seen the movie scene where two men are fighting and someone tries to break them apart. What inevitably happens? You know it: the peacemaker then receives a full-force punch from one of the aggressors. Why? It’s simply: He was in the way. A man caught in the middle of a battle between two opponents receives the most blows. Therefore, if you decide to play peacemaker, which Jesus says we should be as Christians, than expect to receive a few blows yourself. This does not mean that you should not try to help others resolve their conflicts; it does mean that you should not be surprised when you are hit yourself.

 

For hundreds of years, there has been an on-going battle between Israel and the other Middle Eastern countries. Many have thought peace was impossible while others believed it was just a matter of time before the dispute was settled. To help solve the adversarial relationship between Israel and her neighbors, the United States government has been actively involved in promoting the peace process. This is truly a noble, although useless, cause.^[12] However, have you noticed how many times the United Nations, Middle Eastern countries, and even American politicians and political groups have criticized the United States ? Once again, it is proof that the man in the middle can expect to receive some blows. Does this mean that the United States should forget about the peace process? God forbid. We are called to promote peace. Jesus revealed to us that, Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.^[13] One way we reveal our relationship with Christ is by promoting the peace of others.

 

 

Helping Others Deal With Adversity

 

Have you ever wondered why Jesus would come to this earth as a man and endure thirty-three rough years, ending in a horrible death, to save us? Think about it. It was not his problem. Jesus was not going to die and go to Hell. We were. His eternity was already established in Heaven. Why did He pay the ultimate sacrifice for our sins? Because He knew that we would be unable to deal with the adverse consequences of our sins. Because He truly loves us. Because it was the right thing to do. When others come to you and share their trials and tribulations, do you help them? Or do you simply pat them on the back and casually throw out an “I’ll pray for you.”? Aren’t you glad Jesus didn’t do that?

 

Hebrews 13:3 encourages us to, Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. In other words, you treat other people’s problems as yours. You help them as much as you can to get through their adversity.  You are not to ignore it but to get in there and roll up your sleeves and work like it was you in that situation. As “being yourselves also in the body.”

 

This is the relationship in Christ. Just as Christ took our salvation upon Himself, even to the point of death, we should take the problems of others equally seriously. When we address the problems of others, God will address our problems:

 

            Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing:  thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.^[14]

 

I am certain that God can handle my problems better than I can. How about you? Would you rather deal with your problems or have God handle them? I know which I would prefer. Our problems then become victories that Christ secures so that we may help others:

 

            Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.^[15]

 

If we did not have problems ourselves, then we could not help others with their problems. God allows adversity not only for our benefit of character and strength, but also so that we may be better able to minister to others. Our calling is simple:  Meet the needs of others as Christ meets our needs, even in adversity:

 

            Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.^[16]

 

 

 

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