Advent Adversity Dec. 6 day 4

1. How do you, personally, view adversity today?

Well, I think adversity is opposition, but it has to grow beyond a certain point for me to consider it true adversity. So irritation or annoyance by themselves don't count as adversity. However, if they build up, like regularly being insulted by the same person, the relationship can deteriorate. The emotion and hurt continually being added to can cause adversity.


2. Give an example of a time when you saw something good come out of adversity in your life.

I earned my driver's license when I was twenty-six. I have epilepsy and I couldn't get a license until my seizures were controlled. Several years later I became pregnant and my seizures returned. I couldn't go anywhere and there was no public transportation. I was a stay-at-home mom and with my kids almost all the time. I tired easily and there was a limit to how far I could walk. I felt frustrated and wished I could go places and do things. Now I realize my children and I have a strong relationship because of all the time spent together. I could devote more time to teaching them what I wanted them to know. They had a firmer grounding in what we thought and believed before school started and have continued on with that til now.

3. Which do you believe has the greater power to determine your personal future- the situations in which you find yourself in adverstiy, or the power of your faith and relationship with Jesus Christ?

Well. My relationship with Jesus is the answer. If nothing is impossible with God, then helping me with my struggles is probably easy for Him. At least, as long as I let him help. To do that, I have to trust Him. Trust is one of the roots of faith, and may actually be the same as faith. I'm still thinking about that.

4. Is there an area (one of your five lives) that you have struggled with the notion of adversity or suffering?

Oh, yeah. I struggle with finding myself worthwhile. I've heard so many put-downs that I have a continuing struggle with wanting something for myself. I've taken to heart so many things, that I'm still clearing away the personal trash that's infested my spirit.

5. How do you feel about the prospect that God can have a definite purpose for adversity in your life?

I might not like struggling, but there's a definite reason for it. God can take away things I think I want to bring in something better. I've moved several times, even though I usually don't want to. Now I'm living in a place I can really call mine. I think it helps to know that it will be alright, even if it doesn't feel that way right now.