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“Surely
it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I
will not offend any more: That which I see not teach thou me:
if I have done iniquity, I will do no more” (Job
34:31-32).
The
world we live in today is surrounded by acts of terror and
terrible diseases. “Man that is born of a woman is of few
days, and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Indeed, oftentimes
we call this world the “valley of tears”, for trouble and pain
pervade our lives. The children of God are not spared such
sufferings as the Bible has already warned us to “think it
not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as
though some strange thing happened unto you” (1 Pet 4:12).
More importantly, we should prepare ourselves to face such
adversities. Every cloud has a silver lining and even the most
devastating storm will pass. Let us consider three ways in
which the Bible has taught us how adversities can help us grow
spiritually.
1.
Adversities teach obedience
Daniel
saw the righteousness of God when God punished the Israelites.
“O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us
confusion of faces… because we have sinned against thee
(Dan 9:7–8). Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the
evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is
righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not
his voice” (Dan 9:14).
One’s
true faith can only be shown in times of adversity;
oftentimes, have we not been found to murmur against God and
blame Him during times of trial? However, who are we to
question God, let alone to challenge Him? Through adversity,
we must learn to obey and be thankful to God without looking
at the situation we are in. May we be able to echo with Job,
when he said “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
2.
Adversities teach humility
It is
not unusual to hear murmurings mixed with anguish and even
questions to God when troubles strike, especially when our
loved ones are taken away. We do not understand why God would
take away the young child we all adored so much. Humility, as
we learn from the Bible, is to put all our faith in God, for
God has the best for us in His own time. Job had set an
example for us when he proclaimed “I will say unto God, Do
not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me
(Job 10:2). Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I
might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before
him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words
which he would answer me, and understand what he would say
unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No;
but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might
dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my
judge” (Job 23:3–7).
Joshua,
likewise, provided another example (see Joshua 7:6–9) to wait
upon God faithfully even as trouble strikes. Paul also
experienced the same thing. “Lord, what wilt thou have me
to do?” he said.
3.
Adversities teach us to be perfect
God
uses adversities to guide us away from our sinful ways. “Be
ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven
is perfect” (Matt 5:48). We need to be perfect, and the
method God sometimes uses is to make us go through some form
of suffering. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:
but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy”
(Prov 28:13). The objective of God’s lessons to us is for us
to confess our sins and learn to be perfect.
We have
all heard God’s gentle voice of love calling out to His
children. The rod is used at times, but solely for the love of
His children.
Let us
grow through the adversities that God has prepared for us.
Amen!
Encouragement
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