Adversity 101

Here’s a timely verse that came to my attention that I want to share, but first, the backstory.  You may know, I just had surgery.  Let me tell you a little secret: I am SERIOUSLY not brave when it comes to any kind of medical anything!  My fear was so ENORMOUS that I don’t believe the Grand Canyon could contain it!

But God is bigger, and so is His love for us!

As I recently read the first chapter of 2 Corinthians, the simple truth of this verse rang:

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 

A beloved friend suggested that I email her mom because her mom had the same surgery years ago.  So I did.  Her mom answered any questions I had, and went a long way in helping me make a decision that needed to be made about my surgery. 

But what was more, her mom set out on a mission to fortify me with encouragement.  She calmed me.  She reminded me to keep my focus centered on the Lord, not the surgery. 

Each day, she sent me scripture.  Each day, she sent me support.  She hardly knows me, but yet, she poured herself out for me!

My friend’s mom is not just someone that has been through the same surgery, but someone that is GIVEN to the Lord. 

Straight away, I could see that she knows God’s comfort.  That her heart is finely attuned with the Lord’s.  That she daily seeks wisdom through His Word. 

As a result - just as the verse says - she is able to comfort them which are in trouble, by the comfort that she has experienced from God.

He chose one of His beloved children, a faithful one, to hold me up when I struggled to stand.

As I made a feeble attempt to tell her how grateful that I am, she writes back that not just the surgery, but

“…other sorts of trials I've faced over the years, have all helped me to get to know God better and to trust Him more.” 

Just like the verse says, her trials, have helped her to get to know God better. 

Her trials have helped her to trust Him more. 

Her trials, not the easy times.

Yep, Adversity 101.  We’re all familiar with that class.  The scope and sequence of His adversity course includes not only helping us to draw near to Him and realize at a deeper level His love for us and His trustworthiness, but also to prepare us so that we can comfort others.  And let me tell you from firsthand experience, she was prepared.  

Well, no doubt about it, I don’t much care for Adversity 101, and I might would skip class if I could get away with it.  I’m not so sure that I pass His course with flying colors either, because I seem to have to repeat it.  But, if that’s what it takes to be all that God wants me to be, then so be it.  After all, I just saw firsthand what good it might do for others, as my friend’s mom so willingly did for me.  Through her, God showed His love and faithfulness.  WOW!  I hope that He will use me that way too.  Maybe I won’t try to skip class after all.