Adversity

“Greater resistance requires greater power to overcome; therefore producing a greater victory.”

Last night I went down the mountain to hear John Bevere speak at Agape Faith Church. If you don’t know who John Bevere is then you should definitely google him or something because he wrote the most life changing book I’ve ever read, The Bait of Satan. When I first found out that he was going to be close enough for me to make the trip down the mountain I was supposed to be babysitting but quickly started praying that that wouldn’t need to happen so that I could go. The next day babysitting got cancelled so all systems were go for this mini road trip. Four of us jumped in a car and took off for a service we all knew would be great but I don’t think we realized how great it was actually going to be. The Lord was all over this trip from the very beginning. We’re listening to some Jesus Culture and then we start to pray together and it was incredible to just be getting stirred up while driving down 421. When we got to the church we found our seats and worship started and there was never an awkward moment where I felt like I had to push through even though for the most part I didn’t know any of the songs. It was really great to be surrounded by strangers and everyone was just praising as one. John Bevere then got up to speak and I had never heard him speak before and I only knew about the one book but he’s done so much work and really has such a great testimony of what it really means to completely trust the Lord with EVERYTHING you have. He spoke a lot about adversity and how we can arm ourselves to better deal with it. John 16:33 says “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Adversity is going to come regardless of what we do but when we accept that, then we can begin fighting back. He talked about how adversity isn’t always a bad thing. There are several benefits: greater battles yield greater victories, your capacity expands and increases and your character is matured. He said something that really stuck with me last night, “God uses your present challenges to strengthen you for future conquests.” As someone that internally complains a lot about how “bad” I have it that one kind of rocked my world. As much as I’d like to change how things have happened for me or how I’d like to have a “normal” life, I can’t and after last night I don’t want to anymore. Every challenge that I’ve encountered in nearly 25 years has brought me to this point and is preparing me for such a great future. Adversity was made to strengthen me and to this point I haven’t really been taking advantage of that. I’m done complaining and I’m moving on to pure thankfulness.

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do it’s work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

James1:2-4 MSG

I’ve read that so many times but it wasn’t until last night that I truly understood how much James meant that when he wrote it. The Holy Spirit would have never allowed him to write those words or for it to be included into such a sacred book if it wasn’t 100% true. Nothing in the Bible can be exaggerated. We all need to start living like that! Facing each challenge head on and being ready to tackle and learn from it.




As always if you’d like to support me financially on my trip to India you can do so easily here, if you would like for your donation to be tax deductible then you can also mail a check to our church office:

Cornerstone Summit Church

869 Highway 105 Ext Suite 3

Boone NC 28607