Adversity is a University.
God is always at work, especially in adverse circumstances.
It is in those situations when we realize how much we need Him.
By Pastor Gregg Matte.
Adversity is a university. We need to start seeing adversity as an opportunity for growth.
We will never grow in faith unless our faith is tested.
God is a specialist in showing up when we need Him the most.
Sometimes it may feel like He is taking too long to answer, but be patient, trust, and do not lose hope. Draw closer to Him, pray, and surrender your problem.
Adversity is a University.
Respond to the Fear
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
[7] For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
What are you afraid of?
Most people’s answer is, “Nothing and everything at the same time!”
Let us say that you have an important test to take. If you allow fear to control you, you might end up cheating.
Fear is an old enemy of ours;
we came to know fear in the garden of Eden–when we stopped trusting God and decided that we could define good and evil by ourselves.
The first sensation that came out of our sin was fear, which brought about separation—Adam and Eve hid from God.
We are all familiar with that crippling feeling, that surge of fear. It is undeniably part of the human experience.
Fear demands a response.
When we face a situation that causes fear in us, we must respond.
We can move back or forward.
Some of us get paralyzed and have the sensation of not being able to cope or handle the situation,
while others face and confront fear in order to move forward.
Adversity is a University.
There is an interesting story in the Bible that illustrates two different approaches to fear.
When God gave the Ten Commandments to His people, the background and scenario looked pretty scary.
Mount Sinai was a spectacle of thunders, flashes of lightning, and sounds of trumpets; the mountain was covered in smoke (Exodus 20:19).
The people were afraid and trembled; they stood far off and asked Moses to talk to God as their representative.
They did not want to hear God by themselves, for they thought that they were going to die.
Pastor Mark Batterson says, “The only God-ordained fear is the fear of God, and if we fear Him, we do not have to fear anyone or anything else.”
Fear of God is reverent; it is born out of awe.
It is born out of the realization and acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty and power.
Just as the people of Israel had Moses as a representative between them and God, we know that we have access to God through Jesus.
We can draw near to the throne of grace with total confidence.
There is nothing to be afraid of, because Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all sin.
We are no longer separated from God; we can draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith (trust) because we now have the Spirit of God living in us.
The Spirit of God is not one of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
Let us draw closer to God and be filled by His perfect love, for love casts out fear.
Romans 8:28 KJV
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Adversity is a University.
Remember God in the Fear
Fear can become a diabolical weapon that the adversary of our souls uses to push us away from God if we let him.
We always have a choice!
First, We can choose to allow fear to push us away from God or closer to God.
And We can choose to entertain fear and be paralyzed by it, or respond with faith and trust in God.
All we have to do to resist the enemy is to remember God amid fear.
Invite God into your circumstances, invite Him to your rescue.
We know that for those who love God, all things turn together for good.
Adversity is a university. We need to start seeing adversity as an opportunity for growth.
We will never grow in faith unless our faith is tested.
When the Israelites saw the mountain covered in darkness, flashes of lightning, and sounds of trumpets, they were afraid.
Moses’s answer to their request unveils a powerful truth.
Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin” (Exodus 20:20 ESV).
God is always at work, especially in adverse circumstances. It is in those situations when we realize how much we need Him.
Use your adversity not to respond to fear through sin, but to invite God to your rescue.
Let us say that you have an important test to take. If you allow fear to control you, you might end up cheating.
But if you trust God and invite Him to help you, you will answer with integrity—studying and praying.
Your trust in God will grow, and you will succeed.
Adverse circumstances can become an opportunity for you to draw closer to God.
Confront your fears together with God. Invite Him into that relationship that is not working and keeps you from sleeping, worrying at night.
Say, God, “I need you! I cannot do this alone; I need your help!”
In Psalm 34, David tells us that when he sought the Lord, God answered and delivered him from all his fears.
Do not waste time worrying and believing what the enemy and your thoughts are telling you.
Choose life. And Choose freedom from fear.
You can either worry or pray.
Trust God, and with thanksgiving (hopeful anticipation), let your requests be made known to God.
He will never disappoint you!
Isaiah 41:10 KJV
[10] Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Adversity is a University.
Recognize Different Types of Fear
In case you have not noticed, in this message, the Word of God has been revealing two very different types of fear:
troubling fear and comforting fear.
We call troubling fear the feeling we perceive when things go really wrong, when we face adversity.
Corrie Ten Boom describes it like this, “Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear.”
We have diagnosed this type of fear and also given the remedy: Invite God to your adversity and let it become a university.
Learn your lesson, allow God to test your faith, and grow by trusting and believing that He will be there for you.
Refuse to surrender to sin; instead, know that God will answer your prayer.
God is a specialist in showing up when we need Him the most.
Sometimes it may feel like He is taking too long to answer, but be patient, trust, and do not lose hope. Draw closer to Him, pray, and surrender your problem.
The second type of fear is what we call comforting fear.
As Pastor Mark Batterson said, “The only God-ordained fear is the fear of God, and if we fear Him, we do not have to fear anyone or anything else.”
We experience this “good” type of fear in front of our mighty and loving heavenly Father.
It is the kind of fear that allows you to know that He is always in control, because He is sovereign.
And It is a comforting fear because it is born out of awe and reverence. Also, It promotes and demonstrates an attitude of complete trust in God.
What is troubling you right now?
Are you afraid of getting sick?
Do financial problems keep you awake at night?
Picture your problem pushing you into the heart of Jesus.
Learn to listen to His heartbeat.
Receive comfort from God, instead of allowing the problem to push you away from His comfort and love.
Why should you fear when you are in the arms of the Father?
Adversity is a University.
Let Us Pray:
“Today, I am responding to the fear of ___________.
I commit to remembering God by calling out to Him in prayer and by spending time reading His Word.
And I trust that Jesus’s sacrifice was sufficient to cover my sin and restore my relationship with God.
Father, grant me Spirit-led courage to face my fears and realize that you are with me through it all.
In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Also Read: Which Way? – Diademng (thediademng.org)
Adversity is a University.
Confront your fears together with God. Invite Him into that relationship that is not working and keeps you from sleeping, worrying at night. Say, God, “I need you! I cannot do this alone; I need your help!”
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