| |
| |
|
Inspirational Information |
|
|
|
Adversity, What Is It Good For?
As I sat down to write this article, I was reflecting back over the last week - a week filled with adversity. We all go through it and it is during those times that we may often wonder what is it all for anyway? What is the point? What is it good for? I decided to look up the word, adversity, from my old American Heritage Dictionary. The word is defined as "1. A state of hardship or affliction; misfortune. 2. A calamitous event." It was all of the above for my husband and me. We had what most home owners hope to avoid - a major plumbing problem. Oh the thought sends shivers up my spine! Nothing like this ever happens when it's convenient or when you have stockpiled loads of money - as if! While you're going through it all, you wonder "Why me? Why now? Why EVER???" Then you get the problem fixed, breathe a sigh of relief, and wait for the next calamitous event to hit! Sounds rather pessimistic doesn't it? No, not really, because that is life. Over the last year we've survived two computer crashes, resulting in the purchase of a new computer system (after the first crash and before the second), our dog having an allergic reaction to the medicine he was put on to get well (which is why I went completely to all natural care), both cars needing major repairs, and our A/C needing to be replaced. Then last week this plumbing problem happened - not to mention our vacuum cleaner broke and my husband got in a fender bender all in the same week! That does not include the myriad of other "little" things that happen during the normal course of life. I could've sat down and had a great big pity party OR better I could discover what I've learned from all this and put it to use. You know the old saying when you get handed lemons you can squish up your face in bitterness or you can get better and make lemonade? Well, I decided to learn what God's plan was for me in all this and take the high road to lemonade.Now I know you'll be thinking that I'm going to hand you this wonderful explanation and revelation so we can all go merrily down the road of life happily ever after. Not so - but it is inspirational I hope! My husband and I did lots of knee bends last week - you know the ones where you bend them to the floor and look up fervently in expectation hoping that God will just take the situation miraculously away and you'll go on your merry way? Don't laugh; you know you've done it too! Well, that didn't happen but what we did discover is that God is always in control. He allows adversity in our lives to grow our faith or to get your attention on Him. If we never go through any valleys how will we know when we've reached a mountain top? How will we know if the mountain is even any good if all our lives we stay up on the mountain and never experience any valleys? I know we'd all like to avoid those "valleys" at all costs, but the most growth for anything happens during adversity. You can take a look at nature to see that is true. A butterfly doesn't just change into a butterfly from the larvae (caterpillar state) until it has traversed the difficulty of climbing the tree, building a cocoon, staying there for a while, and then, with difficulty, breaking out of that cocoon to emerge a beautiful butterfly. It might sound like no big deal to us, but look at it from the standpoint of a caterpillar and you'll change your tune. God taught me and my husband that through all these trials, these hardships, these bummers, that He will provide and He does care. He wanted my trust in Him fully and completely. God has always had to get my attention with the old 2X4 method. This time the 2X4 was very literal - as in 2 feet deep (under the foundation of our house) and 4 feet wide! I can laugh at the imagery now but it sure wasn't funny while we were going through that valley, I'll tell you! I know now that my faith was being thoroughly tested and all I kept hearing God say to me throughout this whole ordeal was "Trust Me". Jesus allowed His disciples to experience many trials as a test of their faith, not the least of them the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 8:25). He doesn't want us to solve our problems our way, He wants us to lean on Him and trust His provision. My husband I did just that. We didn't wait to go to God as a last resort; no He was our first resort. There is nothing too big nor too complicated God can't handle, after all, He created all things. He allows these adversities into our lives to get our attention, to grow us in Him. He tells us to abide in Him and He'll abide in us. That was the whole point and He really got my attention, again! You know, the whole situation was a learning experience in God's provision, in trusting Him. My dog understood that from the "get go". He kept bringing the plumbers his toys, and "talking" to them which got us all laughing of course. The plumbing crew was one of the best I've ever had the misfortune to have to deal with (smile). They were so professional and worked so diligently and they did all they could to make a bad situation right again. The upside to this story: So, no matter the situation, know that God is in control and that He has very good reasons for allowing adversity into our lives. Kim Bloomer runs a home business in wellness and also publishes a pet wellness channel, AspenbloomWellPet. She is co-founder of a new marketing and advertising channel, Kick The Email Habit. Go to http://KimBloomer.com for all inclusive details.
MORE RESOURCES:
Inspirational - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Just a Typical Teenage Boy Judge not, lest ye be judged. -Matthew 7:1The call was controversial-just as all really close calls in baseball are. Once in a Lifetime A subscriber recently wrote to me and asked me to consider this common phrase - Once in a lifetime."Isn't every moment of our lives, once in a lifetime?" he asked. Attitudes - The Overlooked Inventory It goes without question that any business intending to thrive will, sooner or later, be forced into making an honest inventory of assets and liabilities. Yet, whether from a business perspective, or in the going concern of a single human life, we often lose track of our most vital product, our own attitudes. Self Esteem - What It Really Is and How to Raise It Self esteem.Now there's a well used and little understood term. Without Love Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 30, 2002Kendra and I have been dating almost six years. For the past three years I have constantly asked myself if she is the one. Quitting Before It Even Starts Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. Eight Choices You Can Make Today that Will Change Your Life Forever The direction of our lives is determined by the choices we make every day. They accumulate and add up to our ultimate destiny. Numbers Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 19, 2003I'm currently in the classic older man and younger woman relationship. I'm 50 years old, Nancy is 30, and we are both divorced. Myth And Reality Direct Answers - Column for the week of February 2, 2004I am at a complete loss about what to do with my mother-in-law to be. In a nutshell, she's verbally abusive. Transform Old Grumpy This is a true story. A woman had Snow White and the Seven dwarfs in her yard as lawn ornaments. Clearing Your Inner Landscape: Freeing Yourself From Emotional Deadwood Do you suffer from emotional clutter? Is suffering even the right word? Maybe it is, maybe a better description is 'living with' emotional clutter. Emotional clutter is like an addiction. Dare To Dream The rewards of life come to those who do, not to those whomerely read, talk or day dream. Action is the key. Crossing The Line Of Fear Oh, this is a great topic! I remember when I was younger and in school, fear stopped me from asking out a girl I wanted to date. I can remember all the thoughts of different things I wanted to say and how I would ask her out. When Human Beings Take It To The Limit In life we all have dreams and goals, aspirations to follow a certain path that will lead to social achievements and personal growth. We all hope to fulfill a destiny where we can put all of our efforts into one activity or more that helps the world in one way or another. Being Fruitful Over the years I've learned to challenge my audiences to turn their response to the ideas and information they receive into results. According to the Christian story, the first couple, Adam and Eve, was instructed to be fruitful - produce some results. Two Choices That can Make Next Year The Best Year of Your Life What if there were just two choices you could make to insure that next year would be wonderful? There actually are, and these choices are quite simple in concept, yet not easy to do. They are not things you do on the outside, such as exercising your body (which is always a good thing to do!) but ways of thinking and being on the inside. A Cat In The Hand Is Worth Two Birds In The Bush! I bought this computer just over two years ago with my first venture into the world of credit cards. I'm a mature woman and have seen and done a lot in this world, but nothing could have prepared me for this. How to Scare Fear Out of Your Life A reader asks: "Many times in my life I have let fear rule me and stop me from doing something I wanted to do. Do you have any suggestions for how to handle fear?"There are many successful strategies for dealing with fear in your life. Faith Like a Child Jonathan:This is my brother, Jonathan. They walked into the room together, one limping as he walked, the other patiently walking by his side. It Wont Happen Again Have you or do you know someone who has been abused or been involved in an abusive relationship? What is your definition of abuse? All of us know that physical violence is abuse. We also know there is emotional and mental abuse too, but do we know what it really is?What counts as abuse?I, myself have experienced physical, emotional, and mental abuse to different degrees.
|
| home | index |site map |
| © 2006 |
