Tag Archives: adversity

June 24
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Uncategorized Aside
“His wife said to him, ‘Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!’ He (Job) replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” (Job 2:9-10, NIV)

We have no problem receiving God’s “obvious blessings,” but what about the blessings that arrive in disguise? 

Difficult times challenge our integrity as disciples of Jesus, as much as the difficulties of Job challenged his integrity as a man of God; that is, sticking to one’s belief that God will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5); and that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28). 

Do not expect others to understand your tenacity; even your closest friends will not. “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5b)  – Luther

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January 11
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“‘Here comes that dreamer!’,  they said to each other. ‘Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.’” (Genesis 37:19-20, NIV)

The maltreatment of Joseph began with the evil plans of his brothers.

Joseph’s brothers resented Joseph on many levels: He was their father’s favorite son (and Joseph made no secret that he knew that his father’s favor rested on him); and Joseph made much of his dreams, in which he seemed always to be the hero. The good news here is that God works on many levels, too.  Joseph’s circumstances were used by God to fit Joseph for God’s work; he used the brothers’ guilt to provoke confession and true repentance; and throughout, God was glorified for His love and His mercy.

Like Joseph, we do not know where life will take us; but we should never doubt that God is at work in our circumstances — however hopeless from our perspective — to transform us into the image of Christ; to bless others; and to glorify God. If we are convinced of this, though we may fall down, we shall not stay down!  – Luther

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November 8
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“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11, NIV)

No pain, no gain.

The book of Hebrews concludes its encouragement to godly discipline by reminding the reader that the practice of discipline — though inconvenient and painful in the moment — produces peace and righteousness in those who persevere in it.

God’s recipe for peace and righteousness confounds “conventional wisdom,” which continuously seeks the short-cut or an “edge.”

The question for you and me is whether we will believe God and submit to His discipline in order to apprehend the peace we desire; or will we spend our limited time on this earth trying to prove Him wrong by seeking peace through other means.  – Luther

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