The home, work, internet, church, in friendships and marketplace; the list goes on and on. Just like that pink bunny on the commercials.
What help has made you overcome the adversities in your life ( past and now present)?
In Isaiah 43:1-3 says "But now, this what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel; 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name' you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead."
The adversities spoke here are waters, rivers, and fire. God created US, knew US by name and is with US now through all the trials and tribulations we are in. In the above verses it is talking of Israel, the Red Sea and the Jordan River, the furnace of which Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego walked through. But, for our time is the trials and tribulations that we face daily that these verses are talking about.
But, who is ALWAYS with us through any of them? Jesus is if WE have HIM in our lives, our hearts, and truly following HIM. Remove "our lives" and "our hearts" if we DON'T have Jesus, the answer would be nobody is with us. How could Jesus be with US if we don't have HIM residing in US?
Adversity can come down on all of us in a pounding sort of way. It can come from all directions; financial, relational, and yes here it is emotional beatings. They come from strangers or some one that is very dear to you. It doesn't matter what direction they just come upon us. The question then would be What are we going to do to overcome this adversity that has pounded down upon us?
Adversity could come out of the sky so to speak or very slowly. It is how we have trained ourselves in handling them. Let's take me for example; I don't handle adversity too well. But, I need to do as Jesus tells us.. "Take courage. There is still hope. There is still a power that can sustain you during times of unbelievable tragedy and adversity."
In order to overcome any adversities, we must first be honest with ourselves the we do have struggles in life. If we can't do that then it is impossible to overcome. We have only defeated self then.
How can we if weak and beaten have "courage", take this courage spoken of here? How can a person who has been "discouraged" overcome defeat and learn how to be a overcomer of this struggle? Who do we learn to lean upon, to help us become strong? Some of the adversities are so strong it is like the winds of the hurricane storms that come blowing their powers across the land; destroying homes, families, etc.
There are three things in which we can do to overcome any trial that comes against us. 1) What we believe; 2) How we grieve; 3) Who we lean on. During times like struggles we need to get "back to the basics". Stand firm on what we believe, learn to release our grieving over to Jesus, lean on the strong Christians God has placed in our lives to help us overcome.
W should NEVER fear the "ashamed role" nor "embarassment" from how "others" view us. In Isaiah it speaks to us that throughout this life we will face struggles, adversity, and trials. Just cause we are walking in Christ does not mean we NOW will walk along this journey without pain. Let us not however say "why God, did you leave me now?" God offers us all in Him the power to "OVERCOME".
What We Believe? God is not the AUTHOR of evil! Jesus has taught there are two forces at work in this world: God the Father versing the Evil One.
The Evil one comes to destroy, steal, and kill. This is the agenda he has, his nature to do this. But, God is here to give us the fullness of life not take it from us.
When we face these adversities, trial, and struggles let us not blame God for them. It is not from God! When we feel the hatred from others, the oppression, prejudice, greed, and yes abuse from others; let's not blame God for this......these all come from the Evil One. Don't think the evil one does not use fellow brothers nor sisters to try to destroy, steal, or even kill us. Remember the Evil One it is his nature to go out and do and use whatever he can to do this to us.
On the other side of this coin; when grace, forgiveness, kindness and love come to us this is God's work! When someone gives us more chances, blesses us, encourages us, or serves us; we need to be confident that God is working for US. Why did Jesus come here in the first place? To give us life, to encourage, give grace, offer salvation, and to give us a new life.
God doesn't give us more than we can handle. God makes sure that we receive only a certain amount of adversity. Oh yes we think my gosh Lord, how much more do you think we can handle? That it seems like He is against us due to all the struggles that pour down upon us all at once. God will NOT allow us to be "swept away" by adversity. Look at 1 John 4:4 it says "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." and Philippians 4:13 says "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
Look at Psalm 34:18 "The LORD is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 23 is the best that shows us that we are not alone, for in the valley of the shadow of death, God is right there with us. God is in the midst of all our storms, we just have to reach out and say God help me get through this for I know you are here. Give me strength, be my strength through all this. If we do this, it will help us get through all that is thrown at us. On the other hand, if we don't listen to Him, talk to Him we will "cave in". That my friends and self is exactly what the Evil One hopes we would do, "cave in". I for one will not let the Evil One defeat me no matter what he uses against me.
Our Father is committed to bring good out of our hardships of life. Romans 8:28 tells us "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." At times all we see is the pain and the heartache in the struggles. God sees the "refining process, He can bring out the painful suffering that the Evil One in this world has tossed our way.
How we grieve?
Do we bottle this in a jar, screw the lid on tight and shovel it to the way corners of our mind? Or do we let others hear the grieving, see the grieving, help with the grieving process? There is a time to grieve! We need to let this happen in order to overcome that pain striking blow.
Who We Lean On?
We are of a community in which God made. We are strong when we are around other believers; but we are weak when faced alone. It is actually the best time to let others help us overcome this adversity. We are to be the community in which God made. We are "not" to cast each other aside and say you are not worth listening to, not worth helping overcome whatever the adversity, struggles or pain one is in. We are to be here for each other to encourage each other, to support each other, to care for each other.
If we can't do this then where does this place us with God?
The beginning!!!
