Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

Adversity. Not something we like to think about, but it is something that we all deal with. Lately, it seems my adversity has been sickness. In our family, we’ve had a knee replacement, strep, the flu, and a couple of lingering issues that just won’t go away. To be honest, it can wear me down if I’m not careful. It’s so easy to take my focus off of God and what He is showing me when I feel like I’m just hanging on. Can anyone relate?

God tells us throughout Scripture that we will face adversity. In some verses, the words “trials” or “troubles” are used, but no matter what you call it, it all means the same thing. Things are going to get hard, and we probably won’t like it. We can trace the root of adversity right on back to the Garden of Eden, but that doesn’t help us today, right now. What will help is to remember that God promises that He will redeem His children from adversity. That doesn’t mean that He will swoop down and save us from the situation, but it does mean that He is there with us, making sure none of our adversity is wasted.

I can say without a shadow of a doubt that with every heartache I’ve experienced, there has been growth. With every trial, I have learned something about God and His character. He takes what the enemy means for evil, and He turns it for good every time. That’s why the author was able to say, “Why should I fear?” because he knew His God. It wasn’t a question as much as it was a declaration. My prayer is that we all know God well enough to stand in the face of troubles and declare, “Why should I fear? I know my God will redeem my soul.”

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

The Way of Jesus: 7 Marks of Discipleship

As we begin a new series, we encourage you to lean into the 7 Marks of Discipleship each week. The 7 Marks of Discipleship provide a simple tool to help us identify areas where we are thriving in our calling and where we can grow. Check here each week for a new 7 Marks Challenge that will encourage you to follow Jesus closer every day.