Adversity is Coming Your Way
August 29th, 2007 | Michael Q. Pink
Adversity: Nobody wants it - Everyone gets it. Proverbs says “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” (Prov 24:10) So what does that tell us about adversity? It’s a test. It’s not optional. You will be tested. The only question is how will you fare? How are you preparing now for the test?
To begin with, it helps a great deal to know that the test is coming. Accept the fact that you will be tested in the form of adversity. I don’t care what “religious camp” you are in, you will be tested. You can blame the devil, be mad at yourself or receive it from God. That’s another conversation. But rest assured, it will come and by accepting that fact, you are already positioning yourself to come through it.
Did you ever have a pop quiz in school? A test you were not expecting? Had you known, you would have prepared, studied, rehearsed, practiced and as a result, done much better. Well, here it is folks, you are about to be tested. I am about to be tested. Regardless of the source of that test, we are about to be tested. Take this warning seriously. And if we are about to be tested, then how do we prepare? I will make this the subject of my next post, but in the meantime; I invite you to post your suggestions and testimonies for the group to enjoy.
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August 29th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Yeah! Like it or not, here comes adversity! I totally agree, ready or not, it will hit! It’s like “spiritual bench pressing”, that is tribulation! But practice during the ‘exercise’ makes us tough and strong!
Jesus is coming for His Bride, and the ‘world’ will know it! He does not want anyone to miss His Love, so He sends us out into the marketplace!
Press on!
August 29th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Excellant timing Michael. I’ve been “too busy” to stay on top of the blogs lately, but some how this one got opened up. I’m being seriously tested right now. partialy due to the current environment in the mortgage industry, but mostly in relation to a couple of loans that are going sideways.
Thanks for the reminder.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
You said it. God does not waste any opportunity to help us come into conformity with Jesus.
If our attitude about such adversity is of a positive nature who know how much God can use us with the lessons we have learned.
August 29th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
i must say that reading the information you send out is great because i always feel like it pertains to me, and what i might be going thru. I am reading at the present moment “Joel Olsteens” Book, “Your Best Life Now”, it is actually the first time in my life that i can actually go thru and read different books in the bible, because each of his chapters starts off by some form of quote taken directly from the Bible, so in the last few weeks i have come to understand and have some questions answered thru his book.
By the way adversity, i have gone thru that today and i know that just having the faith and reading like i have been i do not stress out as much as i used to, because GOD will take me thru it. So once again thank you for the information you send out.
Luis Izquierdo
August 29th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
God test us to increase our faith. He already knows how we are going to react so the adversity is not for Him, it is for us. Some will fall away when they are tested while others will grow and mature.
Here are some scriptures to help anyone that is going through adversity. Notice the last one.
When we think of endurance through our trials, have in mind the biblical emphasis captured in the phrases like:
* “rooted and grounded” (Ephesians 3:17)
* “having done all, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13)
* “stand firm thus in the Lord” (Philippians 4:1)
* “not carried away with the error of lawless people” (2 Peter 3:17)
* “we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9)
* “love . . . bears all things, . . . endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7)
* “suffering produces endurance” (Romans 5:3)
* “stay awake” (Matthew 24:42)
* “the one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:11)
* “keep alert with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18)
* “the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13
August 30th, 2007 at 10:15 am
The most important thing i have found in trials is to glean the good out of each trial. Every trial is a learning and growing opportunity…I think that is why James tell us to count it all joy…frankly I don’t learn much of real value during times of success. I heard a great message on adversity awhile a go and the thing that has stuck with me is that adversity is a great time to learn ministry. Adversity reminds us how difficult life can be so that when we see others going through difficulties we have a more compassionate perspective on thier hurts