The possibilities of adversity

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Breaking Free   CURRENT TV SERIES Unchained

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel…. -–Philippians 1:12 Have you ever faced adversity, pain, or a terrible situation that you couldn’t understand and from which there seemed to be no escape? Maybe you’ve had trials, tests, and tribulations? Of course you have; it’s called life! I know people who are disappointed with the Christian life because they thought faith promised an easy road or that it would exempt them from life’s hardships. But faith promises you and me no such thing. What faith does, however, is help us handle our problems and adversities. Often we can’t  change our circumstances, but we can change the way we respond to them. In fact, if we live in obedience to God, he’ll use adversity to move us forward. God uses adversity to accomplish his will through us! You see, adversity produces possibilities that we may not see at the time. But God is behind the scenes working creatively and constructively in our lives for his ultimate purposes. For instance, why would God allow the apostle Paul, who was traveling the world spreading the gospel, to go to prison? While in prison, Paul wrote two-thirds of the New Testament! And concerning his prison experience Paul said, “What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel….” Don’t despise adversity when it comes, but consider how God is at work. Your suffering today may advance the Kingdom tomorrow! GOD USES ADVERSITY TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL THROUGH US!

The Doors God Closes

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.”
Acts 16:6–9

Frederick Robertson had his life planned out. He expected to enter the British Army and become an officer just as his father had been. He grew up in forts and army headquarters and loved watching the soldiers drill and prepare for battle. But his hopes were bitterly dashed when, despite an excellent academic record, he was left off the list for commissioning of new officers. Instead Robertson went to Oxford and trained for the ministry. He became a pastor in Brighton, England for many years, and he touched the lives of many. God had a different position in mind for Frederick Robertson.
Often our plans do not coincide with what God has in mind, and He steps in to direct us toward a different path. It is vital that we view these setbacks properly. Some people become bitter and disillusioned when God closes a door that they wanted opened. Yet His wisdom and knowledge far exceed our own, and He knows what is best both for our lives and for His work. We must be willingly submitted to the direction of God, even when it is not what we would prefer.
It is easy for us to trust God when things are going well. And it is not difficult to accept a closed door if we readily see an alternate path before us. Real faith trusts God even when the closed door seems final. He knows what is best, and we must trust His plan.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Trusting God even when we do not understand His plan is the essence of faith.