Adversity: August 20, 2010

Today's Word for Friday August 20, 2010

ADVERSITY

DEFINITION

Misfortune; calamity; trouble; a difficult circumstance.

SCRIPTURE

"O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are saying to me, 'God will not deliver him.' But you are a shield around me, O Lord; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head."
Psalm 3:1-3

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Adversity is a fact of life. All of us at some time or another will face difficulties or misfortune in our lives. We often cause our own troubles but many suffer adversity through no fault of their own. As we look at the life of Joseph, he certainly knew what it was to suffer adversity at the hands of others. Joseph was rejected by his brothers and sold into slavery. He was not only cut off from his family, taken to a strange land with a different language and strange customs, but he had lost control of his own destiny. He was at the mercy of others. He had lost everything but he kept his faith in God. It was the one thing he could still control.

We read in Genesis 37:2-4 that Joseph kept his faith and God was with him. "The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and he entrusted to his care everything he owned."

Joseph did not let the adversities of his dire circumstances keep him from being the godly man that God wanted him to be. It is evident that Joseph did not give up in despair, but rather he worked hard and was diligent even in the lowliest of jobs. As a result of his integrity and faithfulness the Lord was with him and gave him success, which brought him favor and esteem from his master.

Like Joseph, David also knew what it was to face adversity which he wrote about in Psalms 3 (above). Like Joseph, David kept his faith in God in the midst of his adversity and God protected him from all his enemies and lifted him up.

We often think that when we are faced with adversity and misfortune in life that God has forgotten us. He does not forget us, and we must not forget Him in our times of adversity. That is when we need Him the most.

LEARNING

Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.

PRAYER

Thank You Lord, that I can know that You are with me in all circumstances, even in times of adversity. Keep my faith strong and help my life to be a testimony of what it means to know You as my Lord and Savior. Help me to teach my children to turn to You when they have difficulties and never to give up in despair when life is tough for them.