Galatians 5.7
“You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you.”
Challenges, difficulties, and adversity are part of the Christian journey. They are part of the race we are called to run. They are realities of life in a fallen world. They are opportunities for the presence and power of God to work in us and through us. For that reason, scripture tells us to expect and embrace adversity.
It is of great importance that we recognize the Lord “perfects” our faith through the day-to-day process of walking with him in response to the stuff of life, which includes adversity. Adversity is a fire that refines us and makes us better. This was James’ message at the beginning of his epistle: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1.2-4)
At certain points in your life, you are going to “suffer.” That is a given. The great question is: How will you respond when adversity strikes? You have a decision to make at the points of adversity in your life. When bad things happen, will you make the choice to “suffer successfully,” or will you make the choice to “suffer unsuccessfully.”
Here is how to suffer successfully:
1) Don’t be surprised; be prepared
You know adversity is coming, so be ready for it. The Lord did not save you to take you out of the fallen world. He saved you to send you into it. When Christ returns he will heal the brokenness of planet earth. In the meantime, however, we are to live and work in the world in a way that displays the reality of Christ in our lives. And that includes how we respond to adversity. If you are surprised when adversity hits, then you simply haven’t been paying attention.
2) Don’t be fear-driven; be faith-driven
The difference between a response of faith versus a reaction of fear is what you choose to focus on and give your attention to. Fear focuses on the problem and the pain. It fixates on the negative. Faith focuses on the purpose, the power, and presence of God. It fixates on what needs to be done. You will suffer; that is certain. But you make the choice if you respond with faith in Christ or react with fear of the circumstances.
3) Don’t be resentful; be thankful
Responding to difficulty and adversity with “joy” is not natural. When most people experience hardship, they are resentful. But committed Christians respond differently than average people. This is because the Christians understand the nature of life in a broken world. They are aware of the nature of the mission. They know that the Lord has saved them from the fallen world and then sent them back into the fallen world as his ambassadors.
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5.3-5)
4) Don’t be self-centered; be Christ-centered
If we view adversity through a self-centered lens, it is almost guaranteed that we will react with fear or resentment or anger. That is because self sees adversity as something that is painful and unfair that prevents the self from getting things it wants. But if we view adversity through a Christ-centered lens, our response is altogether different. The Christ-centered believer sees adversity as something that — even though it is painful — makes us stronger.
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast (perseveres) under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”(James 1.12)
You will experience adversity. How will you respond?
