Date:
December 3, 2024Preparing for Adversity
How you respond to adversity reveals the strength of your character. How well do you run when life’s uphill climbs get longer and steeper?
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Tough Stuff
A crisis is any event that leads, or is expected to lead to, an unstable and dangerous situation, which affects an individual, family, group, community or society as a whole. Crises are deemed to be negative changes in life especially when they occur abruptly. Since a crisis is a testing time or an emergency event, we may panic, become stressed, or struggle to cope as a result.
Regardless of the reason for the crisis God is always in control. He cares about what we are going through (1 Peter 5:7) and He never forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). God provides grace for our times of need if we humbly look to Him (John 15:5; Philippians 4:13). That grace can manifest itself in whatever we need: peace (Isaiah 26:3), comfort (Psalm 23:4), stability, protection, or guidance (Psalm 31:3). He will strengthen and uphold us (Isaiah 41:10). God also assures us that He can work in and through the crisis for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
Jesus is Our Bridge
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” He set the ultimate example of love when He died on the cross to pay for our sins and have eternal fellowship with us. Jesus is our bridge over troubled water.
Four Ways to Deal With Problems
Human problems rarely correct themselves without our personal attention given to them. Here are four ways to deal with problems.
Suffering
We shouldn’t be surprised at suffering—we should expect it. Suffering shapes us and matures our character.
It's Not Fair!
Few things in life are more irritating, aggravating, and resented than having to endure what’s unfair, especially when our suffering is not our fault.
A Good Thanksgiving
When troubling circumstances disturb you remember God is using them to refine and shape you into the image of His Son.
Reasons We Don't Learn Faith
It’s difficult to make sacrifices and give others our time, possessions, and money. But it’s in the giving we learn to rely on God instead of ourselves and it’s in the process we learn faith.
Life Isn't Fair
Suffering has a way of simplifying life. It stretches our faith and pulls us back to the basics of prayer and dependence on God.
Impossible Tasks
When we face “impossible tasks” we can choose to give up or become inspired by the challenge.
Impatience
Waiting for God isn’t easy. It’s because His timing is different than ours. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “God has made everything beautiful in its time.” This means we must wait for God. He will make everything beautiful in its time.
