ADVERSITY ITSELF ISN’T A GREAT TEACHER, BUT I’VE OFTEN LEARNED A LOT WHILE FACING ADVERSITY. DURING THOSE TIMES. I’VE FELT CURIOUSLY CLOSER TO GOD AND KNOW OF MY GREAT NEED FOR HIM.
I’VE ALSO BECOME KEENLY AWARE THAT I DON’T HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS. AND PERHAPS I’VE BEEN MORE WILLING TO HUMBLE MYSELF IN ORDER TO HEAR THE DIRECTION GOD HAS ORDERED FOR MY LIFE.
I’VE DISCOVERED THAT WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR ME IS FAR GREATER THAN ANYTHING I CAN THINK UP. AND I’VE LEARNED NOT TO BUCKLE UNDER ADVERSITY, BUT TO MAINTAIN HOPE AND ANTICIPATION REGARDING THE OUTCOME.
IN FACT, I’VE EVEN HEARD MYSELF ASKING FROM TIME TO TIME. “WELL I’VE REALLY DONE IT, GOD, SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET ME OUT OF THIS ONE?’ IT HASN’T ALWAYS BEEN EASY. SOMETIMES I’VE HAD TO BATTLE DISCOURAGEMENT AND FEAR. BUT WHEN I’VE BEEN QUIET ENOUGH TO REALLY LISTEN FOR GOD’S GUIDANCE, I’VE BEEN ABLE TO HEAR IT.
THE BEATITUDES GIVEN BY JEASUS IN HIS SERMON ON THE MOUNT, SHOW THE BLESSINGS AND GRACE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE OF US. THE FIRST ONE STRIKES ME AS THE BEATITUDE OF HUMILITY.
AS A CHILD, I FIRST CAME TO KNOW IT FROM THE KING JAMES TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE WHERE IT READS, “BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT: FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” (MATT 5:3). POOR IN SPIRIT IS THE OPPOSITE OF PROUD IN SPIRIT, SO IT CALLS FOR HUMILITY. J.B. PHILLIPS TRANSLATES IT TO SAY. “HOW HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR NEED FOR GOD, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS THEIRS!”
FACING ADVERSE SITUATIONS CALLS FOR US TO KNOW OUR NEED FOR GOD, BUT THE PROMISE OF DOING SO IS GREAT– THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN! IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN WE HAVE THE HUMILITY TO LISTEN FOR GOD’S DIRECTION, WE’LL FIND BOTH HEALTH AND HARMONY IN OUR LIVES. WHO DOESN’T WANT THAT?
I’VE NEVER MET ANYONE WHO HAD THE PERFECT CHILDHOOD, AND MINE WAS NO EXCEPTION. SEVERE FINANCIAL STRAINS AND PARENTS THAT SOMETIMES NEVER SAW EYE TO EYE. SOMETIMES WE WERE “JUST ON OUR OWN.” I REMEMBER THE DAY MY MOTHER TOLD ALL OF US THERE WAS NO SANTA CLAUSE, WE WERE CRUSHED THEN SHE WENT ON TO TELL US WHAT CHRISTMAS WAS LIKE FOR HER AS A CHILD. ONE THING SHE SAID TO ME THAT STICKS IS ONE YEAR THEY HAD NO MONEY, AND MY GRANDMA HAD BEEN SICK, MY GRANDFATHER SEARCHED THRU PEOPLES TRASH FOR GIFTS. SHE TOLD ME IT WAS THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS HE HAD FOUND A TABLE AND CHAIRS. EVEN THO THERE WERE NO GIFTS THEY ALL HAD DINNER AT A TABLE. WE DID NOT HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS THAT YEAR BUT WE WERE ALL TOGETHER. THIS WAS THE BEGINNING TO ME LEARNING HOW TO TRUST IN THE LORD AND NOT MATERIAL THINGS. I LEARNED ESSENTIAL LESSONS ABOUT LOVING MORE PURELY AND SELFLESSLY IN A POME “LOVE A LONE IS LIFE.” I HAD TO LIVE AND PROVE THAT EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE.
WHILE I WOULDN’T WISH FOR ANYONE TO FACE THE ADVERSITY THAT I’VE ENCOUNTERED, I WOULDN’T TRADE WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM HAVING TO ADDRESS IT. MY MOST IMPORTANT LESSON IS THAT I CAN’T AND WOULDN’T WANT TO GO IT ALONE. GOD IS ALWAYS WITH ME TO GUARD AND GUIDE ME.
AFTER YEARS OF ALLOWING GOD TO BE AT THE HELM, I’VE DISCOVERED THAT GOD IS WHOLLY GOOD- A BENEVOLENT FATHER AND MOTHER. I CAN SAFELY PUT MY HAND IN GOD’S AND EXPECT HIM TO LEAD ME. THAT ALLOWS ME TO HAVE HOPE, EVEN WHEN CHALLENGES SEEM GREAT, ( AND THE LORD KNOWS I HAVE HAD MY FAR SHARE) AND KEEPS ME BUSY LISTENING FOR AND FOLLOWING GOD’S LEAD.
I WISH FOR ALL WHO ARE FACING ADVERSITY TO COME AND FEEL THAT GOD LOVES THEM. EVERYONE IS PRECIOUS IN HIS EYES. NO ONE AND NO CIRCUMSTANCE IS TOO SMALL FOR HIS LOVING ATTENTION OR BEYOND HIS TOUCH.
DURING THESE PAST 10 YEARS+ OF MY LIFE WHERE I HAVE HAD MUCH ADVERSITY. I HAVE TURNED TO GOD AND SAID “WHY ME?”
“WHERE ARE YOU?” “I CAN’T DO THIS ALONE?”
GOD WAS THERE I JUST HAD TO LOOK FOR IT IN UNEXPECTED PLACES.
SOME TIMES I GREW IMPATIENT, AND GOT VERY ANGRY. A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME TO KEEP PRAYING AND TURNING TO GOD. SHE SIMPLY SAID “WAIT AND BE STILL IT WILL HAPPEN IN GOD’S TIME”
“HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR NEED FOR GOD, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS THEIRS!” EMBRACING THIS BEATITUDE MAY BE THE SMARTEST THING I’VE EVER DONE AND HAD HELPED ME FACE ADVERSITY WITH GRACE.
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
thedailylily.com 
Yes, Jersey. I agree!! Adversity is everywhere and we all face things in our lives that seem to pop up unexpectedly every day. Jesus said that in this world we would have tribulation, adversity and offense. Praise God that you have been a good student and have learned to overcome adversity by the “blood of the LAMB” and the testimony that you are giving concerning God’s provision for you in hard times and always. And your observation that GRACE is what brought you through is absolutely true. If we could live by faith through God’s unmerited favor, His grace, our tests and trials might turn out differently. All we have to do is trust Him and receive power to overcome. Thanks for your insights.
Psalm 31:7 “I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have know my soul in adversities, And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place.”
Jersey, It is so encouraging and inspiriting to see your faith, your gentle spirit and your love in the face of adversity. Psalm 94:12-13 “Blessed is the one whom You instruct, O Lord, And teach out of Your law, That You may give him REST from the days of ADVERSITY.
Jersey, it is almost 2 am Friday morning and I hope you feel the presense of the Lord and the love of Jesus and myself as I lift your name up to Our Father for many blessings, healing, peace, joy and love.
“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle.В I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.”В ~Mother Teresa
Psalm 146:5-10..Happy is(she)he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord, his God; who made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is; who keepeth truth forever; who executeth justice for the oppressed; who giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners; the Lord openeth the eyes of the blind; the Lord raiseth those who are bowed down; the Lord loveth the righteous; the Lord preserveth the sojourners; he relieveth the fatherless and widow, but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. The Lord shall reign forever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Halelujah! Praise ye the Lord…
He God says in Isaiah 43;Fear not…I have called thee by name thou art mine..when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior…Fear not for I am with thee….
We learn and become stronger as you said when we go through things but only if we keep the outlook and attitude that you have …that He who formed the worlds, the air, and all that is in it…keeps me…(blessings..dj)
Learning and growing stronger from adversity if we keep the right attitude and outlook…this reminds me of Jersey being a tree throughout it all. When the drought comes, its roots go deeper and wider searching for water. When the wind comes, it bends, not buckles, and the roots anchor more tightly. If it’s blocked by a wall or concrete sidewalk it will find a way to push through. Psalm 1:3 “He(she)shall be like tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.”
Dorothy, I know Jersey’s blog and these scriptures are ministering to you at this time in your life as you and your family wait upon God with your Father suffering with cancer and in the care of Hospice hospital care.
What a timely and encouraging blog for your family and others that are going through difficult circumstances at this very moment., All that have contributed scriptures and other words of encouragment as well.
We are all thankful for how God uses all to bring encouragment, healing and restoration.
Thanks Jersey for sharing so others can share in God’s comfort, grace, truth and love as we make a circle of love.
In Jerseys blog she said a friend told her to wait and be still…Isaiah 40;31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint…(waiting with action..sharing, doing, writing on the Daily Lily giving out what God has put in…renews your strength…recieving what is written on the Daily Lily will cause you to mount up with wings like eagles..because it is Gods Word…that is going forth..and youll not grow weary, nor faint….because you are waiting on the Lord…(serving others with Love)….:)dj…..I am very thankful…For The Daily Lily…and all The Lilies…because life is a daily happening..
“I HAVE TURNED TO GOD AND SAID “WHY ME?”
“WHERE ARE YOU?” “I CAN’T DO THIS ALONE?”
and God said, I will never leave you or abandon you.
by definititon,1.”misfortune; wretched or troubled state.” 2. “a calamity; disaster”, according to the Webster’s New World Dictionary. Now, the apostle Paul certainly knew what adversity was. He was falsely arrested, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and the list could go on, I believe it would be safe for me to say that Paul occasionally felt discouraged and fearful, like you Jersey. In 2 Corinthians chapter 12 we read that Paul had some kind of adversity, and he referred to it as “a thorn in his flesh.” He states, in verses 8 – 10: “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, than I am strong.”
Tammy, this is so special and so timely. Gary and myself were talking this morning just about the time you were posting this. He had called me from work and we were discussing Jersey’s blog and how much it meant to us. To read how Jersey could show herself in such a selfless way. It makes one think ;Truth, Honesty and Intergrity’ evaluation of oneself just like the Apostle Paul had the ability to bring life to God’s word and Jersey has followed in his footsteps.
Thank you Tammy for hearing and doing and being timely with your doing. This really touched Gary and myself to know that God still hears our cry and sends others to help.
Jersey, I have read this over and over and I have seen myself in the state of fear and intimidation so many times.
As I have faced the fears and walked through them I have also conquerored them step by step by God’s Word. Through all things I can overcome by Jesus Christ. He has proven to me over and over that he will bring me through and he has, and He did and He continues to do it.
Jersey when I was a child, I also went through some difficult times, Not like yours, but difficult. I would often retreat to the attic and kneel before the Lord and ask him to move me somewhere else. God did move me. He moved me right into His arms. He has opened up so many interesting avenues in my life. I can’t thank Him enough. The closeness of His presence is so comforting. Thank you Jesus. Thank you that your arms are around all your children as we journey with you.
Jersey, I can’t wait to meet you face to face. You are special.