Adversity, Burden or a Bridge?

March 28, 2020

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Adversity, Burden or a Bridge?

 2 Corinthians 12:7-10… So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

 Psalm 37:4… Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. 

 

Romans 8:28… And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.

 

Psalm 103:19... The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His Sovereignty rules over all.

 

A burden… a very heavy load, hard to carry, under tremendous pressure.

 

A bridge… a structure that carries us over an obstacle like a river, canyon. It carries us over something that we cannot advance through without help.

 

Many people face adversity today. It may be financial, rebellious children, sickness, work issues or emotional distress. Trials come in many different ways to each of us. Nothing is really certain, but we can be certain adversity will visit our doorstep at some point. We are either going into a trial, in the middle of a trial, or coming out of a trial.

We have a choice to make during these times, we either stand firm on the Foundation of God's Word, or we crumble and fall. We cannot become bitter and question God as to “why” all the problems. Just remember, adversity can either be an overwhelming burden or a bridge to a deeper relationship with God.

 

A burden or a bridge? No one wants to go through tough times, they take us out of our controlled comfort zones. We have to remember that in us, as God’s children, He allows trials to come to purify us as gold is purified in fire. God will bend us in trials but never break us. Now there are times for brokenness in a believers life. Right now I am referring to our daily struggles in trials. I will address brokenness in a believers life in a later lesson because brokenness in a believer's life is beautiful. Trials can, if we allow them to, actually steal all our joy. Let’s remember that nothing that we go through defines our identity, we are who we are because of who we are in Christ alone, His beloved. A trial in the life of a believer is to strengthen us, as we find in each trial how God alone is our firm foundation. He does not allow anything to touch the life of His child, that has not been filtered through His mighty hands first. God loves us too much to leave us where we are and not teach us to seek more after Him, which in trials, that's exactly what we should be doing.

 

Paul’s life is one of the best biblical examples of how adversity can be a bridge to a deeper relationship with God. Paul’s deep relationship to his Lord came as a result of the trials he went through. Paul learned that even in adversity he could be content because God alone was his source of strength and joy. God was his identity. Paul was bent but never broke.

In Christ,

K. Shaune White

 

Soli Deo Gloria! (Solely to the Glory of God)