AdversitySample

It’s not about you; it’s all about God and his mission for your life.

Previously, during what seemed like one bout of adversity after another in my life, both mentally and physically, God revealed something to me. During a conversation with a loved one regarding my adversity, it hit me. “I’ve just been going through so much. Between the stress of work and the seemingly never-ending string of mental and physical pain, I’m exhausted. But, it’s not about me, it’s about what God wants and if He wants me to live a life of pain, so be it.” This may sound a little dramatic, but let me explain.

We tend to get caught up in what WE want in life, using God as a means to obtain our deepest desires and successes. Yes, we may love God and regularly pray for His Will to be done, but deep down inside, we long for it to go OUR way with minimal resistance. However, we must shift our perspective here. We must pray for it to go HIS way, regardless of what resistance we may encounter. When we can get ourselves to bow before God low enough to say, I don’t want anything you don’t, even if it means giving up everything I think I am or everything I think I should be.

When Christ was praying to God before what He knew was going to be immense suffering in Luke 22:42 NIV, He says, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Only God knows where we will be most effective in serving Him on this Earth. If this means we must suffer in ways we would rather avoid so that others may come to Him, then so be it. Although much of the adversity I faced was likely attacks from the enemy, who is constantly trying to pull me away from God’s Will in my life, God will always bring good out of those times. I won’t always know what that good is, but in this instance, I am at peace knowing it may allow me to better relate to someone and therefore strengthen my testimony as I share the love God has shown me during my weakest points in life. Maybe there’s more to it, maybe not. But what I do know is that God knows and He will use it according to His Will. Although adversity may not always have a purpose because we live in a fallen world full of suffering, rest assured that when we live for God, good can most certainly come out of the bad.

Romans 8:28 NIV “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.”

Ask God to show you where He really needs you. Ask Him to reveal the things in your life that are holding you back from fully embracing the life He has planned for you, and of course, to give you the strength to endure the adversity you will inevitably face as you live for Him.