Face to Face with Adversity

When Sharon’s oldest daughter moved out, she had a pep in her step that lasted for several years. She’d finally paid off student loans and was only a few more years away from paying off her mortgage. Things seemed to be falling perfectly into place, and most of the plans she set for herself had panned out. The only thing still missing was meeting a nice guy and getting married again. Fifty-two and a single mom, she wanted to be married and build a future with someone new. What she hadn’t factored in was the possibility that her plans might not unfold the way she expected. She neglected to consider that God’s timing might not align with her timing, and that more spiritual preparation might be required.

Spiritual Preparation

Our Lord and Savior said in Luke 12:48 (NLT), “and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” A law is communicated in his truth, and it is telling us a little bit about the way in which God designed the universe to behave. Blessings come with both responsibility and accountability. Together, these two solidify integrity and guard against the enemy’s corruption and deception. The wisdom that Jesus lays out should inform how we pray and what we pray to receive. In other words, when we’re asking God for the desires of our hearts, increased spiritual maturity and strength should also be an important part of that prayer.

Increased blessings will always require more from us, and this is especially true when we’re praying to cross paths with someone that will be significant in our lives. Jesus Christ teaches us in Luke 14:28-30 (NLT), “28 But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’” Jesus makes it very clear in this passage that forethought is necessary before we commit to something, especially when it comes to following him and achieving the purpose we were created to fulfill.

Understand the Costs

We must be prepared for both the challenges and responsibilities that come with the commitments we are asking God to place in our hands. When Jesus asks, “who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” he’s asking us to think about what it truly means to follow him, because being fully committed to Christ should be the priority of every living person. This Christian journey demands total commitment. It involves challenges and sacrifices, and the truth is that many people haven’t fulfilled this commitment or even thought about it, but they are expecting greater blessings. Their current level of commitment to Christ must be weighed in light of the spiritual maturity to handle greater blessings.

When we come face to face with adversity, if we’re not spiritually strong, how will we handle it without allowing the enemy to steal from us or get the best of us? When we face adversity in our relationships that really break our hearts, we’ll mount up with courage and forgiveness, or allow sadness to cripple the relationship? Will we give in to bitterness and resentment if things don’t go our way or change within our timetable?

If we don’t fully understand what it takes to follow Christ, it is doubtful we will come to the table in relationships with the depth of commitment and endurance they require. Whether it’s pursuing a career goal, entering into a significant relationship, or any other personal ambition, we must count the costs of those choices. If we don’t understand what it takes, we might start something we can’t finish, and that’s not going to fulfill us. It leads to disappointment and shame, because we find ourselves in the position of not having the emotional and spiritual resources to see something through to the end.

Maximize Your Resources, Build Your Strength

Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:29-31 (NLT), “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Our lives are precious to God, and our time on earth is also limited. That’s one of the reasons we have to be intentional about maximizing it by doing all the good things God has planned for us. He doesn’t want us wasting resources by starting things we can’t finish. Instead, we’re to use our time wisely by immersing ourselves in His Word, praying often, and following the Spirit’s guidance. Spending quality time with God in ways like these strengthens us. It’s the spiritual preparation that helps us steward our resources in a Godly way and deepen our walk with Christ.

We all want more out of life, and blessings bring so much joy, but we have to be ready to deal face to face with the adversity too. Sharon had not considered the cost of adding someone new to her life. She had not thought about what it means to minister, sacrifice, and put someone else’s needs ahead of her own. Often, we only focus on what we want without the kind of careful consideration of what it means to steward a blessing in a way that pleases God. Our Heavenly Father entrusts us with blessing for which we have the spiritual maturity to steward. The wisdom, patience, compassion, and care that careful stewardship requires should be fully part of our arsenal. God will help us get there if we aren’t already, but we must be willing to allow Him to shape and prepare us for the responsibilities that come with His blessings. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of receiving what we've prayed for, but the true test lies in how we manage, care for, and nurture those blessings once they’re in our hands. God’s desire is for us to grow through the process. He wants us to be transformed into people who are not just recipients of His goodness but who also reflect His heart in everything we do. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Face to Face with Adversity”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2025. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Battling the War Within

 

Ecclesiastes 7:9-10 (NIV)
“9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.10 Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?”

When the world chews you up and spits you out, the emotional impact can be devastating, and you feel it from all sides. At the start of the year, Agnes never saw this coming. She rang in the New Year with her fiancé, feeling happier and more optimistic about their future together than ever. But just two months later, she finds herself standing in a courtroom, being ordered to attend anger management classes for domestic violence.

“I’ve never had a problem with anger – I never even got in trouble in school,” she said. I sympathized with her while we talked on the phone, but I also recognized that her consequence for hitting her fiancé in the face was just the surface-level evidence of a much deeper, unresolved issue. We stuff these emotions away, and when they come to the surface, we’re shocked.

Often, our expectations for relationships are based more on societal standards than on God’s standard. Anytime we deviate from His truth, we’re going to present an opening for the enemy to come in and do what he does: steal, kill, and destroy. The enemy wants nothing more than to destroy our unions, and if we don’t align our relationships with God’s Word, we give room for the enemy to sow seeds of confusion and discord.

When our unmet expectations are mixed with unresolved anger issues, we’re primed for a kind of imprisonment that blocks our growth and blessings. Agnes’ anger towards a verbally abusive father was brewing beneath the surface. Even though he had mellowed in his older years, Agnes hadn’t forgiven him and had refused to be in his company or speak to him the last several years. The thought of hearing his voice made her feel emotions that she wasn’t ready to confront. He had mistreated her mother and eventually left her for another woman. Agnes vowed to herself that she would never tolerate anything anywhere near that from a man.

One night when she and her fiancée were having dinner at her place, he received a phone call. He cut it very short but didn’t mention who it was or what it was about immediately after. It wasn’t another woman, but he could tell by the look on her face that she thought it might be. Initially, he was amused by her jealousy and toyed with it a little, but to Agnes, this was no joking matter. An argument ensued. Her anger escalated uncontrollably and landed her a ride to the police station in cuffs.

James 1:19 (NLT) tells us: “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” We need to know that it’s possible to build a solid foundation in our relationships, only to have it ripped to shreds by anger. There is sometimes rage beneath the surface in our souls, and if we refuse to confront it through prayer and renewing our minds to God’s Word, we might allow the enemy to steal what is most precious to us. 

The Apostle Paul said in Romans 7:22-23 (NLT): “22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.” The other power that Paul speaks about in this verse is the cravings, habit patterns, and tendencies that undermine our faith and relationship with God. These are the issues that cause us to behave and do things that shock us. They come out when we least expect it and overcoming them is the war within. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t intend for us to battle all of them on our own, because we can’t. We desperately need His help and humbling ourselves to follow His guidance is the very best thing that we can do. 

With unresolved anger, we need to allow the love of God in those wounded places. He tells us in Proverbs 3:6 (NLT) to “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” This is His promise to us. He knows that relationships are not easy, and they require so much from us, but He will help us navigate the tough parts if we will ask and obey His direction and guidance. 

Many followers of Christ are like Agnes – some have battled wars within themselves for most of their life. But it’s time to give it all to God. Release what you have no use for – bad feelings, anger, resentment, are all emotions that weigh us down. They prevent us from getting to the place where we actually speak, think and behave like Christ. This should be the goal of every believer, to follow his example and live by his love and light. God’s wisdom and having faith in Him is what saves us from a life of regret. Decide to trust that God can heal your heart, even in those deep places. When we surrender our struggles to Him, He is faithful to bring restoration and peace, helping us to grow more into the image of Christ and experience the fullness of His grace and love. ■

Scripture taken from the New International Version®, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Battling the War Within”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2025. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

The Saving of Many Lives

 

Proverbs 15:31-32 (NLT)
“31 If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. 32 If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.”

It would be so great if only good things happen to good people, but we all know that life doesn’t always work out that way. We can also cancel out the myth that we can do whatever we want without worrying about the fallout from our actions. God’s Word tells us in Galatians 6:7 (NLT): “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” We reap what we sow, so if we put it out there—it’s coming back to us. This is that way God set up the universe to operate. Life can surprise us with issue we never imagine we’d face, and sometimes stuff boomerangs back to us at the worse moments. No matter the situation, as followers of Christ, God always has our back, and we can count on this with all that we are.

Sometimes, unbelievable things come out of our mouths. Our words, attitudes, and behaviors injure and hurt others, and in some of those moments, our intentions are not the best. We should ask God for forgiveness, and we can be confident that, when we do, He grants it. He doesn’t want us to allow guilt to linger in our hearts for these things or to interfere with our relationship with Him. He tells us in 1 John 1:9 (NKJV), “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” After we’ve asked God’s forgiveness in the sincerest way that we can, He forgives us and doesn’t hold our wrongdoing ca earnest,

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” God has given us His Word to guide us through life. Its truth is alive and vibrant, bringing life, hope, and healing to our circumstances when we follow it. After we’ve humbled ourselves before our Heavenly Father and have sought forgiveness, He expects us to allow Him to help us so that we’re not stuck in a cycle repeating the same mistakes.

It’s undeniable that that every action has a reaction; it’s one of God’s core laws in motion; He’s intricately woven it into the way the universe behaves. However, we must also remember that our Heavenly Father is beyond intelligent and operates on a level far beyond our understanding. He tells us in Isaiah 55:9 (NLT): “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” His wisdom and understanding far surpass our own, and there are billions of activities happening behind the scene just to sustain our next breath. He’s incredible beyond words.

Even when we stumble and make a mess of things, God’s power and willingness to lift us up is not restricted by the consequences of our mistakes. He knew about them long before we entered our mother’s wombs, and still, He loves us with a depth we can’t fully comprehend, despite our flaws and shortcomings. Whatever it is that we get ourselves into, He devised a masterful plan long ago to rescue us from our enemies, from the tricks and plots of the devil, and even from ourselves. All we have to do is trust Him.

Romans 8:28 (NLT) says: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” This verse is a reminder that even when life feels completely out of control—whether we’re facing unexpected challenges or reaping the consequences of our own poor choices—the key to navigating it all is to cling to God and trust in His power. This is how we make room for Him to move on our behalf. Even when life doesn’t make sense, we can rest in peace, knowing He’ll take every setback, turn it around, and cause it to work together for our good. Leaning on Him this way demonstrates our commitment to deepen our relationship with Him, whether things are good or bad.

Praise God for His grace and mercy! While those we love and rely on may abandon us, God never will. It’s just like Joseph said to his brothers who had mistreated him, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20 NLT) The brother’s mistreatment of Joseph was awful, but it reveals that our Heavenly Father can transform our heartbreak and save not just us, but those we will influence and encourage throughout our lives. Just as Joseph’s suffering led to the salvation of many, God can use our struggles to impact the lives of others in ways we may never fully understand. He doesn’t waste our pain but instead uses it for His greater purpose. You may not understand everything on your journey, but there’s one thing that will never change: God’s power and the enormous love He has for you. Have unwavering confidence that He is willing and able to help you, and that even when the path seems uncertain, His plans for you are good. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“The Saving of Many Lives”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2025. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.