Lessons I’ve Learned from Adversity

 
No one likes adversity, but there is no escaping it. Life is filled with difficulties, challenges, and obstacles. We all encounter things that set us back and try to impede our forward progress.
The road to success is filled with adversity. Things happen that if allowed to could break our focus and in some cases tempt us to give up on our God-given dreams. Jesus taught, “In this world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.” Trying to escape adversity is a futile effort. You can’t.
Someone once said, “What doesn’t break you makes you stronger.” While adversity can be painful, there are many positive things that come out of it if you look for them. My father called this “Looking for the silver lining behind the darkest clouds.”
The fact is you see what you look for in life. It’s all a matter of perspective. Stand fast in the middle of adversity. You will make it through. David wrote, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Lessons I’ve learned from adversity:

1. Adversity reveals your resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from what knocks you down. It is the ability to get up and try again. One of the things I used to enjoy about championship boxing matches was seeing the resilience of a fighter that appeared to be down and out. To watch them draw of their inner strength and get back up and keep fighting and ultimately win the fight.

2. Adversity causes you to grow. We experience new levels of maturity and growth when we face adversity. Adversity causes you to stretch yourself, spiritually, mentally, and physically.

3. Adversity causes you to challenge your perspective of your performance. Someone once said, “If what you are doing isn’t working, change what you are doing.” There is nothing like the self-examination of your actions that takes place when you are facing adversity.

4. Adversity shows you inner strength you didn’t realize you possessed. When you are going through tough times you learn just how strong you really are. The Apostle Paul wrote, “When I am weak, then am I strong.” He goes on to say, “In my weakness, God’s strength is perfected in me.” When I am going through difficult times I know God’s strength is released in my life. In other words I begin to see how much stronger I am than I thought I was. Why? Because I see that I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

5. Adversity opens new doors of opportunity. Many great ideas and programs have been birthed because of the adversity someone has gone through. A prime example is MADD. The mother that started MADD did so after the death of her daughter due to someone driving drunk. Untold numbers of lives have been saved because of the actions of one woman. Her adversity birthed an opportunity that has impacted our society. Look for the opportunities hidden in your adversity.

6. Adversity can motivate you to positive action. It causes you to look for new ways of doing things. It inspires you to move towards your goals. How does this work? When you understand that life is full of adversity, and that everyone who has done great things faced it as well, then you are motivated to preserve and not give up.

7. Adversity reveals the faithfulness of God in your life. The Bible has much to say about God’s faithfulness to us during times of adversity. Notice what Isaiah said about God’s faithfulness. “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isaiah 43:2) Jesus said, “Lo I am with you always even to the ends of the earth.” (Matthew 28:20) If God is with you in times of adversity then you can have the confidence that you are going to make it and in time things will turn around for you. You can be assured, better days are ahead!

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Be a Person of Value

Albert Einstein wrote, “Try not to become a man of success, rather try to become a person of value.” In our society many are selling themselves short simply by trying to succeed at any cost. While success is the by-product of vision, goal-setting, planning, action and determination, it should not be your ultimate goal. You must not get caught up in the web of trying to be a success so others will think you are great.

Jesus said, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?” Your soul is your mind, your will and your emotions. I have met countless numbers of people in my life who have experienced mental breakdowns, a loss of proper desires, and emotional breakdowns because they chased success instead of letting it follow them.

It is startling to finally reach the top of the ladder only to realize it’s propped against the wrong wall. Your life does not consist of the abundance of things you possess. When you die you will not be remembered for what you owned as much as for who you were.

A person of value not only has worth but also adds worth or value to others. There are many ways you can add value to those around you. Here are a few. Compliment someone that does a good job. Smile at others and make eye contact when you talk to them. Encourage others in the pursuit of their dreams. Find a need someone has and meet it. Place value on others by listening to their ideas. Always treat others the way you would want to be treated.

Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” In order to be the person you were created to become, your life must be founded on right and moral principles. Show me a person with no values and I will show you a failure.

In order to leave a positive lasting legacy you must seek to be a person of character. Seek to live a life based on principles and values. Be a person that makes the difference in the lives of others. Live a life that exemplifies the life of Christ in all you do. In other words be a servant. Zig Zigler says, “If you help others get what they want you will get what you want.”

To Your Success!

Does God Mean It When He Says Bear One Another’s Burdens?

We all experience and come in contact every day with fellow believers that are burdened down. They may be under the load of a physical, relational, vocational, or even a financial burden, or maybe it is something else.

When we encounter a fellow Christian that is burdened down, what do we do? Do we just thank God that we are burdened down by the same thing that has them burdened down? Or, do we ignore it and hope that someone else will assist them? Or do we do our part to alleviate the burden they are under?

How we respond is important to them, to us, and to God. Our response reveals whether we really believe the word of God or not and whether we are serious about being obedient to what God has instructed us to do.

Some friends of ours lost their son this past week. He was only 3 years old and was a great joy in their lives. They, of course, are devastated by his much too early passing. They are Christians (in fact he is one of the lay preachers in his church) and part of a large church family. My wife, Holly, called the mother a couple of days ago to see if there was anything we could do to be of assistance to them during this difficult time. She offered to cook, clean, or whatever they needed someone to do for them.

To our amazement the lady said to my wife, “thank you so much for calling. I have been so depressed the last few days I haven’t been able to get out of bed.” I can understand where she was coming from. She went on to say, “You are the first person that has called to offer our family help during this time. You need to be out there telling others what they should do when someone goes through something like this.”

I have to admit I was shocked and saddened when I heard that no one in their church family had offered to help them in this time of need. I was blown away by the lack of regard or common decency that others in the Body of Christ have shown to this family. This should never be the case. When the Apostle Paul was writing about the church, he compared it to the human body. While the human body is made up of many members they all work together for the good of the whole.

The Bible is explicit when it gives us instructions as to how we are to bear one another’s burdens. Yet when the rubber meets the road, in most cases, we simply disregard what the word of God teaches us to do. I fear that many times we fall into the same deception that Cain fell into when he said to God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

We make all kinds of excuses; some are even spiritual in nature (or should I say sound spiritual), as to why we don’t help our brothers and sisters in Christ when they are going through difficult times. One of the most common excuses I’ve heard is “well I’ll pray about it and see what God leads me to do.” This sounds spiritual, but in actuality it is very carnal. Why you ask? Because you don’t need God to give you a special word from Him as to whether you should help, you have a command. “Bear One Another’s Burdens.” Another excuse is “Let the government help.” It never was God’s intention for the government to bear the burdens of its citizens. It was always His plan for His people to help His people.

This must be of great disappointment to God. Why? Because, nothing in our actions, if we don’t do what we know we should do, displays the love of God that dwells in us as His children.

Let me share a few verses of scripture and some spiritual insight with you that may help you in assessing where you are when it comes to being obedient in this area.

Galatians 6:2 teaches, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Have you even taken the time to ask someone what they are struggling with? What is the law of Christ? It is to love. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” What kind of love did Jesus demonstrate? He was willing to lay down his life for his brethren. His was a sacrificing, giving, love. When you bear the burdens of another you are fulfilling the law of Christ.

1 John 3:16-19 declares, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.” Notice what John penned to the church. If you see your brother with a need and you have what he needs yet you shut up your heart and do nothing how can you say the love of God abides in you? That is a very pointed yet powerful question. He goes on and says we are not to love in word only but also in deed. If you really have the love of God residing in your heart, and you are obedient to what His word says, when you see a need you won’t just talk about it, or pray about it, you will do something about it.

Galatians 6:10 says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” When you read this verse in context with verses 6-10, you come to realize that this whole passage on sowing and reaping is concerning giving. In verse 6, Paul says we are to give to support those that minister to us. In verse 10 he says we are to also give to those of the household of faith. Sandwiched between these two verses Paul makes it clear that when we are giving to others, we are sowing good seed. He also makes it clear when we do not grow weary or get tired of giving to ministries and members of the Body of Christ, we will reap if we faint not. Who in the ministry needs? What are you going to do about it?

James 2:14-17 states, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Do you know someone under a tremendous financial burden, and you have the resources to help them, yet you have done nothing but pray for them? According to these verses the Bible says your inaction profits nothing.

To answer the question Cain asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” the answer is yes you are.

Let me challenge you today to allow the Holy Spirit to point out to you areas where you have been missing the mark in this regard. Also, let me challenge you today to begin to do what the scriptures teach and begin “BEARING ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS.”

Written By: G Samuel Verret