| Overcoming
Adversity(Recognize, Rejoice and Reflect)Introduction:I.A little boy once
prayed, “God please take care of yourself because if anything happens to you
we’re in a world of trouble!” There is
more truth to that than most people realize.
Can you imagine a world without God?
No one should realize more than us the chaos and confusion, the pain
and problems and the undiluted adversity that we would experience without the
helping hand of God. Fortunately, we
do have God, and He is a God Who helps us when we are in trouble. This is tremendously comforting because one
thing we all know is that we live in a world of trouble. We live in a world that is troubled by
crime and corruption. We live in a
world that is troubled by falling finances and rising rates of
unemployment. We live in a world that
is troubled by the brutality of war and terrorism and the chaos caused by
societal discontentment. We live in a
world that is troubled by the influence of Satan and sin that results in the
sadness and sorrow of broken lives.
Lives broken by the betrayal of adultery. Lives broken by the debauchery of
drunkenness and the downfall of immoral living. Lives broken by marriages that are in a
mess due to unloving husbands and defiant wives that turn the home into a
place of captivity instead of haven of happiness. The truth is we live in a world that is
troubled by life. You see, life is
full of family tragedy, natural disasters and the shock of death. Yes we live in a world of trouble, but as
God’s people through it all we can be encouraged and comforted by the fact
that God is our refuge and strength and help in times of trouble. Read with me Psa. 46:1-11. II.From this Psalm I would suggest three
things we need to do in order to overcome adversity. We need to recognize, rejoice and reflect. Let’s consider them. |
