August 16, 2017

I'll let you in on a little secret: I'm not a big fan of adversity. I much prefer life when things are going well and relatively trouble-free. But, as you full well know, life doesn't always go that way. 

"Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 2.10)

One of the great challenges to faith for many people is God as the source of adversity. Would a good and perfect God deliberately bring pain and suffering into someone's life? If we accurately understand the Book of Job, He at least allowed the enemy free reign in bringing calamity, pain, and suffering to a righteous man. And that's too troubling of a truth for many to swallow.

The adversity God directs or allows is never intended to be destructive. "It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?" (Hebrews 12.7). And, "the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1.3-4)

I still have a distaste for adversity, but I'm reminded from scripture that it comes as necessary discipline from a loving Father, for my own good. While it may seem like the proverbial bitter pill we must swallow, it is for character development, rather than destruction.

Whether today is a day of prosperity or adversity, both come from our loving Father. May we rely upon His grace and strength to guide us.

Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2017
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