ADVERSITY UNIVERSITY

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“Your adversity just may be your university.”

I heard that last night while fighting a little insomnia.  That may be something that many of you have heard before, but it did strike me as profound and insightful.

Often when adversity strikes we get so swept up by the pain of it that we rarely see the potential purpose in it.

Adversity is God's most effective tool for growing us in our faith. What often serves to put us on our knees and take responsibility is what often grows us up; helps us learn.

“The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That's the day we truly grow up.”

― John C. Maxwell

Paul said it well.

Philippians 4:12-13

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

He had discovered and experienced God's presence and power in the most intimate ways in his troubles.  

The truth is God carefully chooses where He wants to work in our lives and will use adversity to take us to school.  In intense times of difficulty, when we are “in the crisis” we may be hard pressed to understand what God is doing but we can be certain God has a divine purpose in it. God never wastes a motion; there is always something to be gained from the pain.

Hebrews 12:11

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

And regardless the source of the trouble whether it is from something we caused, from someone else's actions, straight from the devil or from God Himself, God has a purpose and a plan for it. God is engineering all of our circumstances for His glory and for our good.

But you know that.

Romans 8:28

And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.

Adversity is an effective and accurate barometer of our spiritual life. If we want to know the strength and quality of our faith, we need only look at how we handle our troubles. And God invites us to see adversity as He does; as times for REAL development education and yes even PRAISE.

Romans 5:3-5

We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

So if you are going through some trials and challenges right now, let me be the first to welcome to Adversity University.

 

Time to learn.

 

Have a great day!

I love you all!

Freedom Church

 

Pastor GDelaney