"The Problem With Wasted Adversity"

“² Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”  James 1:2-4 (NLT)

Do you remember how people said that your salvation experience would be? Some told you that all of your worries would be over; they would toss around a bunch of good sounding church clichés leaving you in a state of euphoria. Not one person bothered to prepare you for the difficulties that were bound to come your way more sooner than later.

If your experience was anything like mine, you were made to feel invincible, just think back to how many times people quoted Isaiah 54:17 to you. It was always popular to encourage one another by saying that the weapons formed against you wouldn’t prosper, but they neglected to inform you that there indeed will be times when the swords of trials and adversity would cut deep into your spirit-man.

We view trials as something to distance ourselves from; hardships as undesirable; and pain as something to avoid at all cost. However, the Bible puts these things in a different perspective, and asks us to look beyond the immediate sensation of our trials and see Gods’ purpose behind it.

At times it’s very puzzling to realize that even when we strive each day to adhere to the precepts of holiness; God still allows hardship to attach itself to our lives. Yet Paul teaches us in 2^nd Timothy 3:12 –

“…all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”.

So we ask the question: “Why Does God Allow Hardship and Adversity to Enter Our Lives?”

1.      “He Placed Purpose Within You” – Think about Christ’s ministry for a moment… He performed many miracles by healing the infirmed, resurrecting those who passed on, feeding thousands with just a little. His fame preceded him throughout the land. Yet inspite of all his greatness and authority, his purpose would lead him to hours of physically painful suffering which culminated with being nailed to a cross to die for the sins all mankind…But the glory of it all is that after dying and being laid in a tomb for three days, he arose with all power.    

Psalm 37:23 say – “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord…” God created us with individual goals in mind, and regardless of your particular assignment in life your purpose is to be a witness for Christ and to demonstrate the awesome love and power of God towards all men that will be life altering. This cannot be achieved if our testimony is only based on the goodness we experience. Proof of our walk with Christ lies in the fact that we’ve come through many difficult times and situations in life…it’s impossible for a person who’s never been sick to testify of Gods’ healing power; nor can one talk convincingly about Gods’ ability to deliver you if they’ve never been bound by anything.

2.     He wants you to experience great spiritual growth instead of letting the difficulties of life cower you into despair and discouragement. Adversity is designed to mature us at various levels of our Christian experience. Overcoming hardship can only be achieved by facing them head-on. Sometimes we win and other times we lose, but through it all we grow a little stronger, and are more than able to make it through the next trial…”each victory will help you, some other to win”.

3.     He wants you to know that the trial which looks as if it can destroy you will ultimately become the instrument that blesses you. In the book of Genesis we learn that Joseph was tossed into a pit by his brothers and sold into slavery…but the Lord was with Joseph and his new master recognized the integrity of Joseph therefore making him the overseer of his household… But after his master’s wife wrongfully accused him of trying to have his way with her, Joseph was thrown into prison…still the Lord remained with him and he was given charge over all of the other prisoners…The events that would follow within the prison ultimately led to Joseph being made second in command over all of Egypt. This could not have happen if Joseph made foolish attempts to avoid hardship; instead he maintained his trust in, and loyalty to God.
     (Ref. Proverbs 3:5-6)

The natural response to adversity is to plead with God to remove it; but when he doesn’t, we complain not realizing that complaining never makes us one with God, it makes us his enemy…we get angry and try to find our own way out of the difficulty and pain.

That is what’s known as “wasted adversity”.

Proverbs 14:12 states - “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are ways of death…”

By attempting to find our own way out of tribulations we tie the Fathers hand to deliver us thereby ending up in a deeper pit of anxiety.

When troubles arrive we must resolve to just let go and let God by learning to endure hardness as a good soldier… (Ref. 2^nd Timothy 2:3)

The proper response to adversity is to give God praise always knowing:  

“…he’s able to do exceeding, and abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that is at work within you”.

"When The Rebel In The Boat Meets A Rebel At Sea"

Isn’t it exciting when you have a good idea?

After thinking it over, writing the vision and making plan after plan your spirit is quickened and you just can’t wait to present this idea to your closest friends and confidants.

You just know that they’ll be as excited as you are and equally as eager to help bring it to past. Not for a moment do you ever consider that when you share your vision with those whose opinions you truly value; that they will give you a plethora of negative reasons for not going through with your plan.

 They will point out every possible obstacle that you’ll have to face, how much it will cost, the manpower and materials needed, the time it will take to complete, your age and lack of experience…

“And The Beat Goes On”

On this sea of life the visionary must be very careful when selecting the crew that he/she will allow to enter the boat with them; it’s tough enough having naysayers on land so it becomes very counter-productive to have the same sailing with you in the middle of the ocean.

The first sign of trouble will be cause for them to react to you in a mutinous manner only they won’t abandon ship; that would require them to “walk on water”, instead they’ll just hang-on somewhere in the back for a birds-eye view to watch you sink or just drown.

But here is the caveat, your vision is not some made-up scheme, or just another one of the many good ideas you’ve had in times past. Those closest to you have a habit of remembering you as the obnoxious rebel that you are prone to become at times. Little do they realize that your rebellious nature is just the reason why God placed the vision with you…

The Bible tells the true story of one particular voyage…

“And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” Matthew 14:22-29

We must first take into account that it was Jesus who commanded His disciples to get into the ship and sail to the other side…this wasn’t just a good idea; it was a “God Idea”.

Don’t think for one minute that God hasn’t charted the waters which lead to the fulfillment of your vision; He knows the buoyancy of the sea because he created it. He understands that the waters will be turbulent at times and that strong winds will toss you to and fro… but your trust must be focused on Him.

God even knows that you might hit a Titanic sized iceberg that will cause the ship to sink but that’s ok….the vision will remain intact; sometimes the ship has to sink in order to drown the “boat people” who signed on the journey with you…

Never confuse boat people with the ship’s crew.

Boat people are those who do nothing but complain and speak negatively throughout the journey. They seek to cause mutiny and chaos while choosing another captain; themselves never wanting to lead, but always telling others how to lead them.

On the other hand, crew-members see the waters the same as you…it doesn’t matter what the tide brings; they will sink or swim with the vision and with you because they know all too well that success is imminent, and they are in direct communication with “The Captain of The Sea”.

Can you imagine Peter preparing to step-down out of the ship?

As soon as he headed towards the gang-plank all of those boat people started shouting, man you can’t even swim so how are you gonna walk on water?

These are the same people that you’ve entrusted with your visions and dreams, constantly trying to tell you why it won’t work and how you are too un-educated and stubborn to see it through.

In the case of Peter, he was a loud-mouthed rebel.

Always shooting from the lip, not prone to simply giving much thought to his words before spitting them out. The boat people were witnesses to him being rebuked by Jesus on many occasions because of his mouth. They were also witnesses to his temperament, knowing that Peter wouldn’t hesitate to pull a knife on anyone whom he felt was a threat to him.

Could it be that the rebel in Jesus recognized the rebel within Peter?

Remember; it was Jesus who defied the Pharisee’s when they accused him of casting out demons in the name of Beelzebub. Jesus’ response to them was “a house divided against itself cannot stand”… and when his disciples gathered corn on the Sabbath to feed themselves those same Pharisee’s accused them of breaking the “Torah”…to which Jesus responded by reminding them of how David and his men ate the showbread from the Temple when they were hungry.

This is the same Jesus who defied the laws of the vineyard by simply turning water into the best wine ever tasted; “A Rebel”…

He defied medical science by spitting on the ground and using the dirt that he spat in as a salve to bring sight to one who was blind; “A Rebel”…

He would later defy death by resurrecting Lazarus from the grave four days after he was buried; “A Rebel”

… And now here He is defying all the laws of gravity by walking on the sea…  

Can you say “A Rebel?”

God has placed vision and purpose within you from the foundation of the world and now He’s calling in His card…

“…And the Lord answered me, and said, write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

Habakkuk 2:2-3

This is not the time for you to be swayed by the masses to go in a direction opposite of the one to which you’ve been called; but this is the time to throw the cautions of mere mortals to the wind and trust that God has your back…. “That’s What Real Rebel’s Do!”

Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”.

The world has a saying which goes; “game recognizes game”.

If the saying is true, then you must know that Christ (The Rebel) also recognizes the rebel in you, and you’ve been picked out to be picked on by naysayers and boat people to accomplish “God Ordained” goals that most could never aspire; so listen to the voice of the Lord and step out of the boat:

The “Rebel” at sea has need of you to walk on the water…

"The Right Connection"

Networking is a very popular practice in today’s society; everyone is looking to connect with a certain group, company, organization, or employer with hopes of securing a possible career upgrade or financial increase. Others network to achieve political goals or gain party alliances. Networking can be very beneficial to all, and is a great way to take a step upward…..it is just another of the many ways one can get closer to the who’s who of the world.

While it’s true that networking has its high points, there can also be letdowns involved with the process.

Unfortunately we still live in a “dog-eat-dog” culture which makes networking both a partnership for growth and a competition to succeed. Trust is a needed requirement, but not everyone you come in contact with is trustworthy. Not knowing who to depend on can be very confusing.

Sometimes you guess correctly and connect with a person who has your best interest at heart, another time you guess wrong, having your ideas stolen and dreams shattered.

“Another good intention...Another Bad Connection”

Networking mishaps are not regulated only to the corporate world and business society. During our walk with Christ it’s very important make the proper connections. Not everyone who attends church services is a “Holy Ghost Filled” believer…

Believe it or not jealousy and envy do exist in the church at large; yet in most cases we can trust and depend on each other. But in those moments when the human factor causes breakdowns in communication, creates cliques, and separates friendships where can we turn? When unbreakable bonds are broken who’s left for us to confide in and above all, who will extend a hand to pull us upward and bless us forward?

Jesus said: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:4-7

It’s always good to surround ourselves with people we trust, and it’s also good to align ourselves with successful people for the purpose of learning from their examples. But people still have the capacity to fail us. “Jesus Never Fails”…

For it is in Christ that we live, move, and have our being…and are also his offspring. (Ref. Acts 17:28)

As offspring (branches) of the Father, we are empowered to be productive citizens of the Kingdom. It is important to remember that our success is not measured by how financially well off we are, but is dependent on our obedience to Christ’s commandments.  

Joshua received the following instructions from the Lord: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8

By staying in Gods’ word, maintaining a consistent prayer life and extending brotherly love toward our fellowman the Father is glorified through the actions witnessed in us by those around us.

Therefore our success in Christ becomes the catalyst by which others seek to network with us and make the right connection with our Savior.

Successful networking is only possible when we make the right connection and abide in Christ….In Him there is no failure.

Pushed Beyond The Brink...."But It Ain't What It Looks Like"

⁹ Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. ¹⁰ Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. ¹¹ And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.”

¹² As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. ¹³ Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. ¹⁴ “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!”   

 1^st Samuel 1:9-14 (NLT)

Growing up I had a best friend who was one of the gutsiest and intelligent persons I knew. Although he had limits to what he would and would not do, there wasn’t too much that he was afraid of nor any persons that he’d back down from. On the block he out fought the best of them, but in the classroom he was a total honor student. When he wasn’t trying to honor his persona as a tough-guy he was probably one of the nicest and most gifted kids in the neighborhood. Unfortunately not too many other folk knew that side of him.

Because he wouldn’t back down from anyone he would often be drawn into fisticuffs; and because he was pretty skillful it wasn’t uncommon for him to come out of each skirmish victorious. But he never looked for a fight, didn’t walk around with a chip on his shoulder. His attitude was simply if you keep pushing him, you would pay a price. The problem was that he wouldn’t stop pounding his opponent until he felt a lesson was learned. Many parents saw him as an arrogant bully, never realizing the true facts as to why their son was beat-up, and never recognizing my buddy’s true value or worth.

Now he had a reputation that quite frankly he never honestly lived up to…. It seems that whenever a mishap or incident occurred in our community, and there were no witnesses to the fact; fingers would automatically point in his direction. Not many took the time to find out the accurate truth or even learn of the scars he kept hidden deep within himself. No one knew of the hurt he felt from not growing up with his dad. Even I wondered some days why he would hang out in our house and hold long conversations with my dad. It seems that most everyone had an assumption about my best friend; yet none of them were true.

There is a tendency both inside and outside of Christendom to make assumptions about individuals based solely on our own perceptions; with this being so, we fail to realize that our perceptions become our reality, but our reality is not necessarily the truth.
In fact, a great majority of us will look at an individual and assess what kind of person they are based on visualization, however scripture will bear out that “what you see ain’t always what you get”…

When we read Hannah’s story we find that while her adversary attempted to push her to the brink of insanity over her baroness, it only pushed her to fervent and effectual prayer. Apparently, Eli had never witnessed prayer being made in the manner that Hannah employed so according to his perception she entered the temple in a drunken stupor. Yet in her boldness at the brink, she stood her ground; explained her purpose and the end result of her laboring in prayer produced her later giving birth to Samuel.

Just like Hannah, many people made assumptions and had perceptions about my best friend. Some had him spending his life in prison, and after he was rendered paralyzed from the waist down by a stray bullet intended for someone else the prognosticators said that he’d never walk again, would never be able to have kids, no woman would want a man with his type of handicap and because of his condition and perceived history he’d never amount to anything. Some even felt that he got what he deserved. Well, let me tell you something about my friend…..

He learned to walk with the aide of a cane; earned a degree in computer science which garnered him positions as a computer analyst for a couple of major companies. He met his wife in college and fathered five awesome children. Not only was my friend able to walk, but he could drive every new car he brought without the use of hand controls. By the way; did I mention that he earned enough wages to purchase two homes and eventually retire from working at the tender age of 45 years old? His children have all grown up to be outstanding adults.

Not only did my friend leave his naysayers in complete shock, but he loved the Lord and the Lord loved him so much that my best friend now resides in His presence.
The moral of this story is simply this: never judge a book by its cover. Although a person can be pushed to the brink of losing it all; “It Ain’t What It Looks Like”… God will step in to provide blessing and favor beyond measure, and far beyond the perceptions of others.