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Adversity/Keeping The Faith

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Posted by: Sulten

Does adversity really have any purpose in our lives or meaning? This life is certainly designed to try and test us I am reminded every day for the challenges I have in my own life personally and see in the lives of my family and loved ones. Then as I log on here, I read every day of the struggles and many ways and forms of trials you are experiencing in your lives in the various prayer requests. I've also been doing a lot of reflection on what it really means in the face of so much opposition and trial and tempation out there, to endure to the end. But what does that mean to you personally? The scriptures are so full of references concerning "enduring." We are told in Matthew 24:3 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Then in 1 Cor. 13:7 "Bearth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things"... James 1:2 "Blessed is the man that endureth tempation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him."

Then one of the scriptures that I once heard at a funeral that was recited as being a good representative of the life this man had led: 2 Tim. 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith"... We can't give up now! No matter how hard. Keep pressing on, keep believing, keep hoping, keep yourselves spotted from the sins of the world. If there are things you feel you cannot cope with on your own, seek help, pray, fast, fight, fight, fight. But back to adversity. We all have it. Sometimes we're besieged on all sides. When it rains it pours! There is a little story I wanted to share:

There were two trees that were close to my home when I was growing up. The one was a Russian olive and grew right in our yard. It was watered every time the lawn was watered, and in that kind of protected environment it grew to be a beautiful tree. Yet one night a tremendous wind came up. Trees all over town were blown down, and with them went our Russian olive. We had watered it so well that the roots did not have to reach down into the soil; and because they were so close to the surface, the tree toppled over.

The second tree withstood the gale. It was a tremendous cottonwood, which still stands in the lane just half a block from where I was born. This tree was in the fullness of its growth when I was a child. It has always stood by itself, completely exposed to the elements, with nothing but a ditch running by, which most of the time is dry. It is gnarled and tough, and its roots have had to sink deep in order to drink of the water of life; but because its roots were forced downward, it lives. I was out home the other day and noticed that most of the trees around this cottonwood are gone. But in all of its power and majesty, it still hangs on.

I see in many people this same kind of beauty. Adversity and trial have driven the roots of faith and testimony deep in order to tap the reservoir of spiritual strength that comes from such experiences. When I look back at my own life, I have greater vision now then when I started out. More perspective. I can see how the Lord has used my own personal trials to be turned for my good. I couldn't always see that at the time. I love this scripture: Rom. 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God"... But I also think that promise is conditional that we don't turn away from God. I have seen family members turn away from God and blame him when things didn't go well in their lives. Well those of us who love and serve the Lord are not immune to suffering, but let me tell you I've been on both sides. I have seen so many miracles of prayers being answered and people coming unto Christ. There is even a change in their countenance. They may experience trails, sorrow and suffering, but there is a deep abiding hope in Christ that no matter what He will make it alright in the end. I know that this world and it's trials will come to an end. I think it will mean a lot to us if it can be said of us that we "fought the good fight" and finished our course, not just muddling through, but faithfully, prayerfully, hopefully. I think of so many of you as I read your prayer requests. It takes so much faith and hope to come to a website like this and post a prayer. To have that much faith to ask really means alot. These are a few of my thoughts today... I just want to tell everyone out there to hang on! Keep fighting whatever your struggling with. Don't give up! Keep doing the right things! Be like the wonderful tree with the deep roots.