ADVERSITY

From time to time we all experience one of those days; but for some those days have turned into weeks, months, or even years. Have you ever lost hope and trust in God? When it seems like our world is crumbling around us and problems are piled on our shoulders like bags of bricks, it is easy to give up, blame God, or simply quit. We recognize that our friends also have problems, but we may think theirs are not as troublesome as ours are. It may appear to us that everyone else’s life is generally going great while our own is generally bad.

For some people this dark cloud becomes more than just a cloud—it becomes an obstacle in their relationship with God and others. While the situation may seem gloomy, there are others all around you who are also hurting, struggling and looking for help. James 1:2-3, “…count it all joy when…” It is not a matter of “if” troubles come, it is a matter of “when” troubles come and how will we deal with it. While we may not feel “joyful” about our current situation, we know that if we approach it with the right perspective, it can deepen our faith and strengthen our relationship with God. Any time Christians go through the trials and problems of this life, their faith is tested to some degree. It is easy to ask ourselves questions like “why me?” or “What did I do to deserve this?” and our faith wavers. Perhaps we should ask “Why not me?” We need to be reminded to focus on the big picture—the eternal picture—so that we clearly see that all is not lost.

I) Job and Adversity

A) Consider the plight of Job

1) He did not lose one thing; he lost everything but his life.

2) He was in such agony that his wife declared “curse God and die.”

3) Job’s answer to Satan

(a) Satan thought he could break him

(b) Job 1:20

B) When you read this book, you see how Job responded under adversity.

1) Along with what his friends and wife said, we can easily understand Job’s feelings and his questioning God.

2) We also see how God responded to Job.

(a) Job 38:4

(b) God had not abandoned Job.

(c) God cared for his servant and he was still in charge.

C) As we look at the world around us, it is easy to get distracted from the beauty of God’s creation and care, and focus on the problems in this life.

1) When sin first entered into the world, mankind no longer had that perfect harmony with God as was in the Garden of Eden.

2) Because sin continues in the world, the human race will continue enduring suffering.

3) But that does not mean that all people are the same in reference to the hardships of life.

4) The difference in a Christian and non-Christian’s suffering is that the Christian has Someone to whom he can turn for support.

5) Not only can we read God’s Word, but also we can turn to God in prayer knowing that He will hear and answer our prayers.

6) Keep in mind that God will answer our prayers according to His will and His knowledge of what is best for us.

D) The word adversity appears several times in the scriptures. (12 times)

1) Psalm 31:7

2) Prov. 17:17…in adversity, as well as prosperity; the character of a true friend.

3) Prov. 24:10

4) Heb. 13:3

II) Adversity can come…

A) At the loss of a job

1) If it is unexpected, can be overwhelming and devastating.

2) James 4:13-15 comes to mind.

3) Need to remember these three strategies:

(a) Sun will rise again… tomorrow

(b) The load we are given will never be too heavy to bear (I Cor. 10:13)..God will not let His children be crushed by unbearable burdens. Times will get tough, but He will always help us bear up in the face of challenges.

(c) We can always know God is in charge.

B) When we face sickness.

1) The dreaded “C” word, or some other sickness that is life threatening.

2) Perhaps it is the fact that someone close to us is dying.

3) We have the avenue of prayer.

4) We have the support of fellow Christians.

5) We have God’s word to comfort us and help us through difficult situations

(a) Psalm 46:1

(b) Psalm 55:22 (I Pet. 5:7)

(c) Psalm 81:16

6) When the medical staff has done all they can do, you then realize how dependent you are on God.

7) How we deal with this adversity says a lot about us.

(a) We can become angry and hateful and turn away from God and say “why me?”

(b) We can look at it as another opportunity to serve God and others.

(1st) I read of one example of this (Jimmy Jividen)

(2nd) I personally know another example (Don Chaffin).

(3rd) Never losing faith in God

(4th) Continuing to look for ways to encourage and serve others

(5th) Never complaining, and never questioning God’s will in his life will have as great an impact as anything he has ever done.

C) May come at the break-up of a marriage.

1) When that mate you have been married to for years says, “I don’t love you any more.” “I’m leaving you.”

2) The physical and emotional pain can seem unbearable.

3) You know God’s desire for the home and family, but you cannot control what the other one does. You want them to come back, but they have no desire to do so.

4) You want to crawl up in a hole and hide or perhaps even die rather than deal with this.

5) You are filled with sorrow when you think about the pain the children (if there are children) are going to endure, the agony, shame, embarrassment, financial burden and stress this will bring on you and your family.

6) I think about Romans 8:28…

7) The bad choices others make should not be a barrier to you in serving God.

8) We must continue to have faith in God and His word.

III) When Trouble comes.

A) Troubles are a natural part of the human experience.

1) We should use the trouble of this as a time to draw closer to God.

2) If we use our troubles to get closer to God, there might come some great good from them that we cannot even see at the moment. (Romans 5:3-5)

3) Troubles allow God to do amazing things in our lives.

4) People often grow more spiritually in those times of trouble than at any other time in their lives.

5) Our troubles might be the tool that can be used to bring others to Christ.

B) To cry unto the Lord during trouble is the right thing to do.

1) Psa. 145:18

2) Psa. 121:1,2

3) The Christian should and must pray to God during times of trouble. (I Thess. 5:18)

C) To cry unto the Lord during troubles is the wise thing to do.

1) Deut. 4:7

2) Each new problem calls for renewed trust in our God

D) To cry unto the Lord during trouble is the natural thing to do.

1) It is a natural thing when our troubles lead us to prayer.

2) Psalm 25:22

3) Psalm 18:3

4) I Peter 5:7

IV) In the book “WHY ME?” there is a story about two men who cut down an aged hardwood.

A) The woodcutters observation are compelling.

1) The younger one noticed that there were five very narrow rings. He concluded that there had been a five-year-drought, during which the tree had shown very little growth.

2) The older wiser woodcutter contended that the dry years actually were the most significant in the tree’s history. Because of the drought, the tree had to force its roots down further to get the water and the minerals it needed. With a strengthened root system, it was able to grow faster and taller when conditions improved.

B) Lesson for us:

1) All of us inevitably experience “dry years” at some juncture in our lives. (2 Cor. 1:8).

2) “Dry years” tend to be intense, but limited in duration. (2 Cor. 4:17; cf. Rom. 8:18).

3) The “dry years” can be a time of internal growth and maturity (Psa. 119:67,71) (Jam.1:3)

4) Often times strength during adversity is drawn out of the resources generated during the “dry years.”

5) We need to take a long, hard look at those “narrow rings” from the dry years of our life. Are they indicative of regression and spiritual withdrawal, or do they identify certain perseverance and deepening faith?

Quote I used: “We view our life on earth in terms of His physical protection, and I learned that God is concerned much more with our spiritual health than our physical health."

Con:

How do we deal with adversity? It is only through faith in our Creator that we can use adversity in a way to show others our belief that although we do not always understand why bad things happen to good people, we always know God is in control and has a reason for whatever happens in our lives. As we stated earlier, the sun will rise again, the load we are given will never be to heavy to bear; and we can always know God is in charge. As a Christian, you have a number of things available to help you deal with adversity.