Discovery
in Adversity
We
may wonder whether we have any ideal account of anyone going through
adversity and yet remaining faithful! Yes, God has been gracious enough
to provide us with just such an ideal account in the book of Acts, in
the N.T of the Bible.
In Apostle Paul, we have a man who suffered extensively
on every level and yet remained faithful to the end-someting that can
not yet be said of you or me.
What did Paul have to say about adversity? What did he
learn? What was his secret? How did he keep picking himself up over
and over again when most men would have quit? The answer to almost all
these questions can be found in 2Corinthians
12:7-10. Paul made some fantastic discoveries about adversity
that enabled him not to merely survive his circumstances but to "glory"
in them and emerge victorious. So what did Paul discover?
1. There is a Divine Purpose
Behind All Adversity. 2Corinthians
12:7.
Paul understood that God was always using adversity to further His cause;
it always had a purpose. Unfortunately, the purpose is not always easily
identified. Yet, God would not have us suffer for the sake of suffering.
There is always a purpose.
2. God may Choose to Reveal
the Purpose for our Adversity.
In Paul's case, God chose to indicate why he was given the "thorn".It
was to keep him from becoming proud.God is not necessarily silent concerning
the question of why. But He answers according to His schedule which
is usually slightly behind ours.
3. God Never Scolds Us for
Asking Why or for Requesting that the Adversity be Removed.
God understands our weakness. He expects us to cry out to Him and desires
that we cast our cares on Him. You need not feel guilty for asking God
to remove adversity from your life.God will comfort and sometimes may
reveal His ways to you.
4. Adversity May Be a Gift
from God.
It was a gift in that it was through this irritation that God protected
Paul from the thing he feared the most-spiritual disqualification (1Cor.
9:27).He could with all sincerity view it as something God
did for him rather than to him.
5.Satan can be the Agent of
Adversity.(2Cor.12:7).
The implication here is that God uses messengers of Satan in the lives
of His servants. e.g.Job. Even the schemes of the devil can be used
to benefit us and further the kingdom of God.
6. God will Comfort Us in
our Adversities.(2Cor.1:4).
Our Lord has promised never to leave or forsake us.SOmetimes doubt diminishes
our ability to recognize the comforting hand of God.
7. God's Grace is Sufficient
during times of Adversity. 2Cor.
12:9.
Paul discovered what many believers miss throughout their whole lives.
That is, God's power is most evident to us when we are weak. It is most
evident then to others as well. His grace is sufficient for anything
we will encounter.
8. God may Not See Fit to
Remove the Adversity.
This is the most difficult principle of all to accept-not only in the
context of our own lives, but in the lives of those we love as well.
Lord Jesus never promised to remove our pain and suffering in this life.
(John
16:33) Certainly there are cases in which HE does. There
are times, however, when despite our inconvinience, HE allows adversity
to persist. The best thing we can do is simply submit to His sovereign
decision, knowing that His grace will be sufficient for anything we
might face.
9. Contentment Does Not Hinge
on the Nature of Our Circumstances.
Having gone through so many trials and adversities, Paul was able to
say that he was well content as per 2Corinthians
12:10;
2Cor. 11:24-27. If Paul was
able to find contentment in the midst of those hostile environments.
I think it is safe to say that contentment does not hinge on one's circumstances.
Contentment is available to all of us, regardless of our circumstances,
if we will only commit our lives to the purposes and plan of God.
10. The Key to Advancing through
Adversity is to view it as for Christ's sake.
Paul understood that his purpse in life was to bring glory to God by
preaching the gospel of Christ. Similarly, our mission in life is to
glorify God by our life and witness. And when God uses the adversity
in your life to draw people to Himself, you have suffered for Christ's
sake.
God may want to relieve you of the adversity in your life.
But He may choose to delay your deliverance that He might use your suffering
for His sake. It was through the Lord's suffering and pain that many
were reconciled to God. So we should make our pain available to God
for Him to use as He desires. And then we, too, will endure these things
for Christ's sake. Your responsibility is to submit yourself to the
Lordship of Christ and say,
Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way;
Thou art the potter, I am the clay;
Mold me and make me, after Thy will;
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
When that becomes the sincere prayer of your heart, you too, will become
well content with weakness. And you will have taken another giant step
toward advancing through adversity. Be Encouraged.
*****************************Letter # 02 (13.1.2001)*****************
