October 12, 2014

Adversity: October 9, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 9, 2014.

ADVERSITY

DEFINITION:

Misfortune; trouble; calamity; 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 either have or will face difficulties or misfortune in our lives. In fact we will no doubt face it often. We often cause our own troubles but it is also true that many suffer adversity through no fault of their own. We have all read the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. He certainly knew what it was like to suffer adversity at the hands of others.

Joseph’s family moved to the land of Canaan when he was 6 years old. Joseph had 10 older brothers and he and his brothers tended their father’s flocks. Joseph’s father, Jacob, had made it obvious that Joseph was his favorite son. The brothers were jealous because of this and they hated Joseph.

It was 11 years later when he was 17 that he came home from being with his brothers and shared with his father a bad report on his brothers. This just added fuel to the smoldering fire of animosity toward Joseph within his brothers. 

Joseph, in his immaturity, was not sensitive to his brother’s feelings. Joseph was boastful and his brothers could not interact with him without conflict and hostility. The brothers totally rejected Joseph and conspired against him and they sold him into slavery. He was not only cut off from his family and his financial security, but he was taken to a strange land with a different language and strange customs. This was truly adversity for Joseph because he had lost control of his own destiny and was at the mercy of others.

Joseph had lost everything but he did not lose his faith in God. This was the one thing that he could still control. We read in Genesis 37:2-4 that Joseph kept his faith and his relationship with God. As a result the Lord was with Joseph and he prospered in spite of his adversity. As the story of Joseph’s life unfolds there is no doubt that God was in control and working to fulfill His plan and purpose for Joseph’s life. It is evident that it was God who determined that Joseph would be sold as a slave to a rich officer in Pharaoh’s service and taken to live in his home.

Joseph found favor with his master because his master saw that Joseph’s God was blessing him and he wanted the same success that Joseph had. Joseph did not let the adversities of his dire circumstances keep him from being the Godly man that God wanted him to be. Joseph did not give up in despair but he worked hard and was diligent even in the lowliest jobs that he was assigned to do. As a result of his integrity and faithfulness the Lord was with him and gave him the success that only God could have given him.

Like Joseph. David also knew what it was to face adversity which he wrote about in Psalms 3 (above). David also kept his faith in God through his adversities that he faced in life and God protected him from all of his enemies and continually lifted him above his adversities.

When we face adversities in our lives we can learn from Joseph and David. We must never forget that God never forgets us nor does He leave us. In the times of our deepest adversities we need God and we must never lose faith in Him. He is there for us when we need Him most.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:13.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

PRAYER:

I am so grateful that I can know that You are with me in all of the circumstances that I face today, even the adversities that may come my way. Keep my faith strong and help my life to be a testimony to others as what it means to know You as my Savior especially in times of trouble and despair. Help me to teach my children to turn to You in their darkest hours.

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