As long as you and I are on this planet, living on this side of heaven, adversity will come our way. Just because defeat presents itself to you, does not mean that you have to accept it. When the storms of life blow your way does not mean that you have to sink (See Mark 4:35-41). I want to share with you what you can do in the midst of it.

Adversity is part of Christianity. In fact the apostle Paul says for us to fight the good fight of faith, and to endure hardships as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (See First Timothy 6:12 and Second Timothy 2:3). Notice it's the good fight of faith. A good fight is a fight that we win. Even though adversity may come our way in life, as long as we stay in faith and not cast away our confidence in the Word of the Lord, we will win.

Let's take a look at what Paul say's in the Book of Acts concerning the adversity that he faced in his ministry.

Acts 20:18-24 - And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, “serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; “how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, “testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, “except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Notice what Paul's life was like in these verses. "Many tears and trials, I go bound in the spirit, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, chains and tribulations await me." But most importantly notice his attitude towards these things that he faced and was going to face. “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, . . .".

I think the reason why many Christians don't experience many victories is because they loose their joy in the midst of the adverse situations that they face.

I like what I heard Rev. Jerry Savelle say once, "What happens in you will determine what happens to you." Another way you can say that is, "What happens in you during the times of adversity will determine what happens to you, and how you come out of it."

If you can maintain your joy in the times of adversity, you can come out of it in victory. How was it that Paul was able to face his adversities with joy? It was because he did not count his life dear to himself (See Acts 20:24), and that the things which happened to him have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel (See Philippians 1:12). You can maintain an attitude of joy in the midst of adversity when you know the final out come.

Hebrews 12:1-3 - Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

How could our Lord Jesus have joy to endure the cross, and all that it entailed bearing the sins of mankind, being separated from the Father because of our sins, bearing the beatings in His own body for our healing. Knowing that He was going to go to hell and suffer the torments of it. How could He endure all those things and more with joy? Because He knew how it was going to come out. He knew the end result. How did He know how it was going to come out? He knew what the Scriptures said concerning Him, and the suffering that He would endure, and how it was going to turn out. You see, everything that Jesus did in His life and ministry He did by faith in what the Scriptures said concerning Him (See Isaiah 53:10-12). Jesus lived, died, and was raised from the dead by faith.

Notice again from Hebrews what we are to do, " . . . let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, . . . consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. Jesus is our example. We are to follow in His footsteps. So if He could endure what He faced with joy, we can face the adversities in our lives with joy, and the way that we do this is the same way He did. God's Word has the answers that you and I need to make it through the storms of life. God's Word is the answer for our lives. Within His Word contains the wisdom that we need to know how to make it through. Let's look at some of the answers that His Word provides for us.

Psalm 34:17 - The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 34:19 - Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Isaiah 54:17 - No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

2 Corinthians 2:14 - Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, . . .

These are just some of what God the Father says concerning our victories so that we can face our adversities with joy. CLC
 

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