Tag Archives: adversity

November 5
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“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  (Hebrews 12:3, NIV)

The antidote for fatigue and discouragement is the life of Jesus.

Because of His spirit within us, we each can be as Jesus was when facing opposition from others.  For example, when reviled (verbally abused) He did not revile in return; He prayed for His enemies; He sought reconciliation with His foes; He remembered that even when the devil and the forces of evil win a battle, it is God who shall win the war.

If you say that you cannot overcome opposition as Jesus did, you are correct — if your only resources are your own.  To succeed as Jesus succeeded, we must follow in His steps.  – Luther

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October 23
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“You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.” (2 Timothy 1:15-17, NIV)

Most of us have lived long enough to experience what Paul describes: The disloyalty (and the loyalty) of others.

We should be disheartened (although not necessarily surprised) when others desert us — sometimes with malice.  However, we should be greatly encouraged by the loyalty of persons who have gone to great lengths in seeking us; in finding us; and in being present with us.

We should be encouraged by the mere presence of those who are not ashamed of — or intimidated by — our “chains,” whether our encumbrance be illness, financial difficulty, marital discord, substance abuse, or the literal chains of jail or prison.

We should also aspire to be “Onesiphorus” in the life of others.  – Luther

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August 22
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“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2, NIV)

Today’s psalm reminds us of the connection between where we choose to live and the quality of that life.

The state of Kansas, where I was born, is known (as much for its depiction in the classic movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” as anything else) as the home of fierce windstorms and tornadoes.  Kansas is also a place where a lot of people live in mobile homes.

People whose dwelling place is a mobile home do not rest easy when wind storms and tornadoes are in the weather forecast.

Likewise, in life, people whose “shelter” is their wealth, their popularity, their intelligence, or any state or status other than an established and growing relationship with the Lord God will not — cannot — rest easy when these “shelters” are at risk of destruction in the storms of life.

These storms; whether they be illness, persecution for doing the right thing, the death of a relative or a friend, or enduring a trial of faith, are as natural in the spiritual realm as tornadoes are in the physical realm.

Where is your dwelling place?  Where is your resting place?

For the person who trusts in God, these two places share the same address.  – Luther
REMINDER: Daily Encouragement will be on break tomorrow, as normal. Lord willing, see you again on Monday!  Have a great day in worship.

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