HEAVENSREEF

That saying about “don’t sweat the small stuff” is so true isn’t it?  Why do we let the small things get to us?  And then there are those big circumstances that really throw us for a loop. 

ECCLESIASTES 7: 14  “IN THE DAY OF PROSPERITY BE JOYFUL, AND IN THE DAY OF ADVERSITY CONSIDER……”

Consider what?  Charles Spurgeon says this:  “it is in the valley that so many of us faint and give way.”   There have been just those times for me and there have been those times I have asked why me?

GOD uses adversity to teach us either about sin in our lives, pride or just to get our attention.  Adversity can be very humbling and the valley can be deep.  Only JESUS resides with us there especially when we feel as if everyone else has left our sides. 

IN ADVERSITY KNOW THAT JESUS IS THERE

If we try to look at adversity as a way of GOD maturing us and touching us, then it really doesn’t seem so bad.  Our view of it all will then be a what can I learn from this?  My cancer diagnosis began with the “why me” and grew to a view of what can I learn from this?  LORD teach me!

I think with any adversity we need to keep an open mind.  So many of us respond with the “here we go again” attitude and we fail to see the LORD in the midst of the adversity with us.  It becomes a looking just for the smallest detail to know HE is there. 

PROVERBS 13: 21  “ADVERSITY PURSUES SINNERS, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE REWARDED WITH PROSPERITY.”

The Good News Translation says the above this way:

PROVERBS 13: 21  “TROUBLE FOLLOWS SINNERS EVERYWHERE, BUT RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE WILL BE REWARDED WITH GOOD THINGS.”

An attitude of gratitude helps with seeing those good things, whether we are in the valley or not!   Being grateful is so good for the soul and such a comfort when adversity comes!   Our anxiety can be replaced with HIS peace, even when we don’t understand why a difficulty has come upon us……..even when we are in the valley.

PSALM 23: 4  “YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL; FOR THOU ART WITH ME; THEY ROD AND THY STAFF THEY COMFORT ME.”

GOD IS WITH US………through all our valleys and all our adversity.  And we can trust HIM…….that all of it is for our good, whether we understand it or not. 

Take time today to consider adversity and what it means for you.  Is it your enemy or your friend?  Because adversity never really goes away even though we wish it so!  If we ask our LORD to be with us through all our adversity HE will.  HE will because HE is a good and gracious GOD, full of compassion and mercy. 

LUKE 18: 19  “NO ONE IS GOOD EXCEPT GOD ALONE.”