Wednesday, December 1, 2010

A Hidden Blessing

For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.
This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?— the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.

Psalm 18:29-33

Nothing has the ability to strip away human pretense and false humility like adversity. It has a way of revealing who we really are, what we are made of, and how we view life. Not only that, but adversity also reveals our view of God and out ability to trust Him in difficult situations. It brings to the surface hidden emotions such as fear, low self-esteem, and jealousy. It is likewise efficient in illuminating out strengths. If the adversity comes as the result of a personal attack or betrayal, it shows whether we are willing to forgive those who have betrayed us.
Most important, adversity is a gauge of our level of faith. If we trust God in the small trials, then when the winds of adversity howl, we are much more likely to stand in faith rather than retreat in weakness. This principle was magnified in the life of the apostle Paul. Several times, he mentioned the hardships he endured. Recalling past trials gave Paul an opportunity to honor God for His faithfulness.

Within every problem or sorrow is a hidden blessing as well as an opportunity for a lesson of faith. Paul's "thorn in the flesh" kept him humble and focused on the sufficiency of Christ. If adversity has besieged your life, ask God to show you the blessing He has for you and the lesson He wants to learn. 

I know I have. Will you?

The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills. 

Habakkuk 3:19






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