When you come toChrist you are also enrolled in the University of Adversity, and you have theincredible opportunity to learn and grow through any situation, good or bad,high or low, mountain top or Valley… And trust me you will learn more in thevalleys than on the mountain tops.
Life is full of upsand downs, a roller coaster of experiences, emotions and relationships. Sogiven the variety of terrain you face, where is your education at Uni-Adversitygoing to be most effective?
We lean more in ourvalley exp...
When you come toChrist you are also enrolled in the University of Adversity, and you have theincredible opportunity to learn and grow through any situation, good or bad,high or low, mountain top or Valley… And trust me you will learn more in thevalleys than on the mountain tops.
Life is full of upsand downs, a roller coaster of experiences, emotions and relationships. Sogiven the variety of terrain you face, where is your education at Uni-Adversitygoing to be most effective?
We lean more in ourvalley experiences than in our mountaintop experiences. My may not enjoy themas much, but we definitely learn more from them.
James 5:10-11
Brothers and sisters,as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spokein the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who havepersevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lordfinally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
By any standards, Jobgot a raw deal! Faithful, righteous,caring and successful, God boasted of him and thereby lined him up for a fontalattack by Satan. Job had to go through some very dark, excruciating days, butJames reminds us that God never abandoned Him. It always helps to rememberGod’s unchanging compassion and mercy when we suffer.
In this message I’mgoing to address some of the common questions all of us have when we thinkabout suffering, hard times and adversity. But before we address these questions, let me remind you what you areabout to learn in adversity…
So what do we learn inour suffering?
1. ADVERSITY REVEALS OUR STRENGTHS AND OUR WEAKNESSES
In we can only see oursituation and circumstances, we often do not have a true understanding of ourpotential. But God does! ConsiderGideon’s call to greatness…
Judges 6:11-16
When the angel of theLord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
“Pardon me, my lord,”Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Didnot the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us andgiven us into the hand of Midian.”
The Lord turned to himand said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. AmI not sending you?”
“Pardon me, my lord,”Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh,and I am the least in my family.”
The Lord answered, “Iwill be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving nonealive.”
The Lord’s estimationof us often differs from our own. God saw Gideon as a “valiant warrior” becauseHe knew what He was going to accomplish through him. God saw the potential thatGideon never saw in himself for a moment!
Gideon saw himself asweak and little because his focus was on his circumstances rather than on the LordWhen we believe God and depend on Him to empower us, we become who He says weare—His beloved children through whom He overcomes the world…
1 John 5:4
for everyone born ofGod overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, evenour faith.
Remember, when we are weak,He is strong!
2. ADVERSITY IS OUR CHANCE TO SHINE
Funny how yousometimes misfit a key and it reveals a truth. I mishit the S, so this headingread “Adversity is our chance to whine.” This is a Fraudian slip but probablymore true for us.Most of us whine long before we shine, don't we?
When a freak storm hitthe boat the disciples and Jesus travelled in, the true extent of their faithwas revealed…
When hardships comeour way, do we respond, “God, I trust You to bring me through this”? Or do wetend to say, “I’m doomed, and there’s nothing anybody can do”? Or maybe we say,“Why me Lord, don't You care?”
Mark 4:38-40
Jesus was in thestern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher,don't you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked thewind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and itwas completely calm.
He said to hisdisciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
How often do we saythings like this to our Lord? When we get into some trouble, we question Hislove, not His ability. And yet despite our lack of faith, He reaches out Hishand and saves us. Guess He really does care after all.
When the storm hit,Jesus was fast asleep in the stern of the boat, and the disciples cried, “Teacher,do You not care that we are perishing?”
How many times haveyou felt the same way? Life turns stormy, adversity comes against us, and wedon't see an opportunity to grow, we see disaster! We cry out: “Don’t You care, Lord, that thisis happening to me? God, don’t You love me enough to do something about thishardship?”
The disciples wokeJesus and immediately He rebuked the wind and a great calm settled on the lake.Then He turned to His disciples and said, “Why are you afraid? Do you stillhave no faith?” (Mark 4:40).
Faith is a gift, and Godhas given to each one of us the ability to trust Him. He expects us to use thisfaith to overcome doubt, fear, and anxiety. Many times, these negative feelingsaccompany adversity.
When we hit the valleyof our trials, we are tempted to thinkthe worst and wonder if we will ever recover. Satan loves to tell us that allhope is lost, that we will never achieve our goals. Our situation hopeless, ourfaith worthless.
Where can you turn? ToScripture, where we read
Romans 8:28
And we know that inall things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been calledaccording to his purpose.
All things? Evenadversity? That's what the Bible says!
So,, we must stay thecourse, continue to trust, and know that because Christ is with us, we willmake it to the other side. No matter how serious the difficulty, we willrecover, and our final state will be better than anything we have experiencedin the past.
This is your moment toshine!
Allow adversity tospur your faith to action rather than into question. When you do, you will findthat it reveals areas in which you need to act in confidence rather than fear.When hard times come, instead of running for cover, make a commitment to trustGod. Because the more you depend upon Him, the greater your faith will grow.
Then the moretriumphant you will be! You will shine brightly when others expect you to fadeaway!
Yet inevitably youwill have questions. That's ok, just don't let them steal your faith. Let'sconsider a few questions many people have in the School of Hard Knocks atUni-Adversity.
MOUNTAINHIGH, VALLEY WHY... Questions about Adversity?
So why do we even haveto face valleys, and what are some of the questions you face when you get rightdown in the valley of adversity?
1. WHY AM I CRITICISED DURINGTIMES OF ADVERSITY?
Often as we strugglewith adversity, we find ourselves being criticised, often by those who areclosest to us…
Job 2:9-10
His wife said to him,“Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
He replied, “You aretalking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job didnot sin in what he said.
When you facedifficult circumstances and then have to endure negative opinions and commentsfrom others, you need a special kind of courage to stay positive—despite theirwords, you must continue to believe that the Lord is with you.
Just because you're inUni-Adversity and facing tough times, it does not make hope and faith automatedresponses. You have to make a choice, and this requires an act of your will anda fair slice of courage!
And the comments ofothers often don't help, right?
That's why here atCoast Church, we want to be encouraging you in the trials you face. We want to speaklife and faith to you.
But if no one elsedoes it, you may need to speak faith to yourself! Use scriptures like Psalm 23,or Psalm 42. Tell yourself that your loving Heavenly Father has a purpose inyour pain!
Whatever they say, findout what God says and choose to believe that!
Deuteronomy 31:8
The Lord himself goesbefore you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Donot be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
2. WHERE IS GOD WHEN I’M IN PAIN?
As a child, I oftenhad to have needles for my asthma. The doctor and my mum would have to chase mearound the surgery. As far as I could tell, the doctor was assaulting me and mymum was an accomplice! I could not see as a child the greater good thoseinjections would result in.
Isaiah 63:9
In all their distresshe too was distressed,
and the angel of hispresence saved them.
In his love and mercyhe redeemed them;
he lifted them up andcarried them
all the days of old.
So where is God whenyou are hurting? He's right there it's you, hurting with you, just as my mumwas when I faced those injections. Now I am a father I get that… But I didn't as a child!
Isaiah 56:5
But he was pierced forour transgressions;
he was crushed for ouriniquities;
upon him was the chastisementthat brought us peace,
and with his wounds weare healed.
God does not leave us tosuffer when the hard times come; instead, He is right there with us, ever mindfulof the pain we endure, not only watching and giving moral support, but also actingon our behalf so we don't suffer a moment longer than we can bear!
3. HOW CAN A GOOD GOD ALLOWSUFFERING IN A BELIEVER’S LIFE?
A frequent question ishow can a good God allow suffering for those who love Him? If you ask this,you're not the first…
Psalms 10:1
Psalm 10
Why, Lord, do youstand far off?
Why do you hideyourself in times of trouble?
Or how about Moses
Exodus 5:22
Moses returned to theLord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is thiswhy you sent me?
Adversity that goes beyondyour ability to control it simply proves that God is God, and we are not! When we consider the suffering we face, webecome acutely aware of our need for Him and His intervention to save us. Weneed His grace and love, and we need it now!
Satan makes mileageout of this question, especially if you have been told that God will neverallow adversity in your life. Again, this shallow theology concentrates on yougetting your way, not God having his way with you to develop character.
I love how Spurgeonputs it…
“God knows thatsoldiers are to be made only in battle; they are not to be grown in peacefultimes. Warriors are really educated by the smell of powder, in the midst ofwhizzing bullets and roaring cannonades…Is He not developing in you thequalities of the soldier by throwing you into the heat of battle, and shouldyou not use every application to come off conqueror?”
4. WHAT THE POINT OF ADVERSITY IFIT MAKES ME FEEL WEAK?
If you face adversity,chances are you feel overwhelmed or weak at some point. Most of us know what it feels like to bedisappointed in ourselves, embarrassed by our failures, rejected but those wethought we could count on, overwhelmed by adversity.
What is it that youface today that is overwhelming you!
Regardless of how youfeel, whatever brings you to your kneesin weakness carries the greatest potential for the greatest spiritual victory.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “Mygrace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so thatChrist's power may rest on me.
If you feel weak,rejoice, you're ready to truly trust God now!
5. HOW DO I DEAL WITH FEELINGSTHAT PLUNGE FROM STRUGGLING TO DISCOURAGED TO HOPELESS?
Since stepping up tobecome pastor of this church, I've had my fair share of adversity. I met with aleader of our denomination who told me I had face more adversity and personalattack in my first 6 months than mostpastors face in 20 years.
At times I've feltdiscouraged and yes, even hopeless! Then the Lord gave me this…
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Though the fig treedoes not bud
and there are nograpes on the vines,
though the olive cropfails
and the fields produceno food,
though there are no sheepin the pen
and no cattle in thestalls,
yet I will rejoice inthe Lord,
I will be joyful inGod my Savior.
If you feel hopeless,helpless, or powerless—unable to deal with people or problems and on the vergeof exhaustion—take heart from that passage!
When everything lookedthe worst, no food, no livestock, everything up to mud, somehow Habakkuk didn'tjust say he had faith, he actually rejoiced!
So how could he findsuch hope in the face of unmitigated disaster?
He got a revelationfrom God. Habakkuk 2:2-3. He spent time pressing into Him, reading His Word,seeking His heart and His purposes. He asked God, and frankly didn't like theanswer he got! But he saw the vision, wrote it down and waited, fully confidentthat God would come through for him. He learned from the University ofAdversity.
That's why herejoiced. That's why James said, “Count it all joy when you face trials of manykinds.”
Not that its fun, butthat God is working a greater work within you.
The pain isn’t fun,the hurt isn’t pleasant and the feelings of discouragement and hopelessness arealmost debilitating, but God is working in and through these adversities tobring about something special within you!
Do you need that revelation, that joy today asyou attend Uni-Adversity? Have you had arevelation of God’s love for you and purpose in your time of adversity? First,read His Word, but also, let us pray with you …
If you feel hopeless,if you feel like you’ll never triumph, then this morning is for you.
Your feelings arevalid, they’re normal. When. You walk through the valley of the shadow ofdeath, you’re entitled to feel discouraged. But keep walking, don’t camp there!
If you arestruggling with feelings of hopelessnessthis morning, let us pray and stand with you.
