WHAT ARE GOD’S PURPOSES IN ALLOWING ADVERSITY?

ADVERSITY IS GOD’S WAY OF GETTING OUR ATTENTION.

Adversity includes trouble, opposition, pressure, chastening, illness, anguish, testing or tribulation. It is greater (or may seem greater) than our ability to resolve. It sometimes comes in multiples: several trials at once. Adversity can be our greatest motivation for spiritual growth or our deadliest means of discouragement. The difference depends on our understanding of God’s purposes through adversity.

Adversity will become destructive to us if we fail to see the hand of God behind it. God’s stiffest competition for our time, attention, and affections are the cares of this world. They choke out the Word of God and drown out the voice of God through His Holy Spirit.

Matthew 13:18-23: Listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.  But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

While we are busy with our plans, goals, projects and friendships, God patiently tries to teach us: But I have spoken to you again and again, and you refuse to obey me. Jeremiah 33:14 NLB

When adversity comes, we are suddenly faced with problems and pressures too big for us to resolve. Our inward response should be, O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. Psalm 25:1-2 NLB

As adversity continues, and human strength is drained, Christ’s invitation becomes more and more attractive: Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.

God’s ultimate purpose in getting our attention is to conform us to the image of Christ. On the basis of this, all adversity works together for our good. Through it we learn of Christ who is gentle and humble and whose burden is light.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:28-29.

ADVERSITY IS OUR REMINDER OF OUR WEAKNESSES.

Only as we learn how to glory in our unchangeable “infirmities” will we be able to experience the power of Christ resting upon us: There was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  II Corinthians 12: 7-10

Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. Psalm 103:13-14

God chooses what the world calls foolish to shame the wise, and what the world calls weak to confound the strong. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. I Corinthians 1: 26-29

When God works in power through our obvious weaknesses, both we are free to give Him all the praise.

ADVERSITY IS GOD’S CALL TO IDENTIFY WITH CHRIST.

Our third response to adversity should not be to live for Christ in our OWN efforts, but to realize that Christ must live in us through the power of His Holy Spirit. This power is available to every Christian through the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. Ephesians 1:17

The “knowledge” referred to here is further explained in Romans 6-8. At first, this knowledge appears to be unrealistic because it does not match our experience. However, as we accept it by faith and begin to live in its truth, the spiritual eyes of our understanding become enlightened and we begin to experience: [H]is incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:19-20

God’s power becomes a reality within our lives when we enter into the truths of Romans 6-8.

In Romans 6 we learn how to “know” that we are crucified with Christ, how to “reckon” or “consider” ourselves dead unto sin and alive unto God, and how to “yield” ourselves to God and our members as instruments of righteous to Him.

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. (Romans 6:6). In the same way, count (or consider) yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:13

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. Romans 6:13

In Romans 7 we discover a new problem: we are still overcome by the demands of the “law.” We try to live according to God’s Principles. But we find that we cannot do it. We learn that our death in Christ also caused us to die to the law so that we are free to be controlled by God’s Spirit in order to bring forth spiritual fruit. (See Romans 7:4, 6)

In Romans 8, we learn our source of power over sin – the indwelling Spirit of God based on our position in Christ. We see that by walking in God’s Spirit rather than in our own flesh, God is able to fulfill the righteousness of the law in us. (See Romans 8: 2-4)

ADVERSITY IS OUR PREPARATION TO COMFORT OTHERS.

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort–we get a full measure of that, too. II Corinthians 1:3-5

Our most effective counsel to others will grow out of the counsel God gives us during our suffering. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us–trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us–he lives! While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best! So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. II Corinthians 4:8-10, 12, 16

ADVERSITY IS OUR MOTIVATION FOR OPEN ACCOUNTABILITY

One of God’s key to life and peace, wisdom and lasting achievement is a moment by moment awareness of our accountability for all of our words, thoughts, actions, attitudes and motives. However, this accountability has nothing to do with a Christian’s salvation since no Christian can lose his/her salvation no matter what he/she does.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one. John 10:27-30 (NASB)

Of course rebellion against God’s will can bring consequences: As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?  If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.  Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.  No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening — it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Hebrews 12: 7-11 (NLB)

This continuing awareness of our accountability for our words, thoughts, actions, attitudes and motives is actually the fear (awed respect) of the Lord. It is the beginning of wisdom and the fountain of life.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 (NASB)

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27

When we lose our awareness of God, we become vulnerable to thinking and acting as if God did not exist. In response, God raises up painful reminders on a human level. He illustrated this with His nation, Israel: So the Lord burned with anger against Israel. He said, “Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands, I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died.  I did this to test Israel — to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the Lord as their ancestors did.” Judges 2:20-22 (NLB)

But regardless of what we do, God still loves His children: Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. Psalm 103:13-14 (NASB)

Adversity is our Signal to Re-evaluate our Priorities

Wrong priorities may result in much painful adversity, not only for us but also for those who are affected by our lives. When we fail to spend proper time with the Lord in memorizing His word, meditating and praying, we rob others of necessary spiritual encouragement and direction.

Adversity from wrong priorities may be the result of trying to do more than God intended for us to do. If we have more projects than we can manage to do in six days, we probably have assumed more work than God intended: Six days you shall labor and do all your work. Exodus 20:9

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:19-21; 24-33 (NIV)