Article #17 FatherSpiritSon.com
Press Onward in the Face of Adversities
In this world there are few certainties, but one you can be 100% sure of is that you will face trouble in your life. (See V*1). This especially rings true when you attempt to live a life of servitude to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ! The Devil is constantly looking to cause us to stumble, and we need to be vigilant and alert so that we do not fall victim to his schemes. Furthermore, we need to try our very best to resist him so that he will flee away from us. (See V*2 & V*3). Sometimes it is better to mourn, weep, and even be miserable if it means that we are purifying our hearts and cleansing our minds. To me the Bible implies this in James 4:8-10. (See V*4). In other segments of the Bible we also see that it is said that grief is better than laughter and that the hearts of the wise are in a house of mourning rather than a house of pleasure. (See V*5).
I do not think God wants us to necessarily maintain a state of continual depression or sadness, but I believe that if it took a period of either one of these states to purify our hearts and help us realize that we're headed down a wrong path or need to make some sort of lifestyle change, then it is perfectly healthy. In this case the sadness should be viewed as a blessing, because we are essentially being convicted to do better with our lives and lead us to successfully repent! (See V*6)
Sometimes we may look heartbroken and sad on the outside, but we may feel an indescribable gladness or inner-peace on the inside. I am pretty certain this is God's way of comforting us and helping us to come to terms during instances of grieving due to the loss of a loved one or maybe we have just come to realize that we should repent of a particular sin that has been lingering in our lives. In any case I personally think that it is perfectly normal to go through brief periods of sorrow, and should be treated as opportunities to draw closer to God in prayer and seek His guidance in that particular area of concern. I know that when I feel a bit discouraged or even down-right depressed, God has been there to comfort and guide my thoughts and actions when I needed Him the most.
Trials and adversity are a part of this world, and I cannot claim to offer you a perfect explanation for what the meaning behind each trial or adversity is. I do know, however, that many times what we perceive to be an insurmountable obstacle or circumstance by our own strength, can most certainly be overcome with the supernatural help of God. The word says even a mustard seed of faith can move mountains, how awesome is that! (See V*7). Sometimes we may be in a position where we can't do much about a particular circumstance on our own, but through prayer, faith, and perseverance God miraculously opens doors in our favor. Remember, God is there for you even when you have exhausted every plan and resource. He is there to provide for you, you just need to reach out to Him and give Him the opportunity/opening to help you! The take home message is this: He does not abandon those who seek Him. (See V*8).
Other times we may be able to perform despite the severity of the situation, but it is not easy to press onward during tough times. These are the times where God is building us up and preparing us for something down the line that will occur in our lives. Furthermore, other times it may simply be God is making sure that we are equipped to serve Him better by blessing us with challenges, so that we may build character, mature in faith, and ultimately take the next step up in our walk with Him. As a faithful believer of Jesus Christ, you can be sure that God will use you to accomplish His will. He definitely doesn't need our help to get His word across, but he gives us the opportunity to serve Him, I think that is quite a privilege to say the least.
If you expect the adversity, and even attempt to embrace it as God's plan, you will get through trials and obstacles faster than if you resist the changes and wallow in your own self-pitty. One of God's calls for many of us is for us to be adaptable. We need to adapt with our environments, circumstances, and of course God's plan for our lives. It is up to you if you want to turn away from God's intentions for you and decide that you rather serve your own interests instead of your Creator.
The old saying “patience is a virtue” rings quite true to me, particularly in matters of adversity. A lot of the times we may grow impatient and begin to question why God “isn't helping us” or why he “isn't listening to us”. The truth is that God sees all the angles and makes no mistakes, we can rest assured that an omnipotent, omniscient, and loving God will certainly have your best interests in mind before taking action on our behalf. His timing is perfect, and if we diligently pursue His will and respect Him, things will work out for the best. (See V*9).
--Victor Nunez
Biblical References:
V*1- “After they had evangelized that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the hearts of the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith, and by telling them, “It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God”” Acts 14:22 (HCSB)
V*2- “Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (HCSB)
V*3- “Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.” - James 4:7 (HCSB)
V*4- “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. - James 4:8-10 (HCSB)
V*5- “ Grief is better than laughter, for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad. 4 The heart of the wise is in a house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in a house of pleasure.” Ecclesiastes 7:3-4 (HCSB)
V*6- “Now I am rejoicing, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn't experience any loss from us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (HCSB)
V*7- “Because of your little faith, He told them. “For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20 (HCSB)
V*8- “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10 Those who know Your name trust in You because You have not abandoned those who seek You, Lord. Psalm 9:9-10 (HCSB)
V*9- “What does the worker gain from his struggles? 10 I have seen the task that God has given people to keep them occupied. 11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:9-11 (HCSB)