The Teaching of Adversity
In the world you will have
tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world —John 16:33
The
typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all
adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. "He who dwells in the secret
place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil
shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling . . ." (Psalm 91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God.
If you are
a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you
should not be surprised when they come. "In the world you will have
tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." He is
saying, "There is nothing for you to fear." The same people who
refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain
and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it
means to live the life of a saint.
God does
not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds
our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking
God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to
accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the
strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will
give you nourishment — "To him who overcomes I will give to eat from
the tree of life . . ." (Revelation
2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become
exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength.
God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for
the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the
standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can "be of good cheer" even when seemingly defeated by adversities,
because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.
(Taken from Oswald Chambers – “My Utmost For His Highest” August 2)