Growing Through Adversity & Plagues

By: DrScott

“Some of us will not see pain as a gift; some will always accuse God of being unfair for allowing it. But, the fact is, pain and suffering are here among us, and we need to respond in some way. The response Jesus gave was to bear the burdens of those He touched. To live in the world as His body, His emotional incarnation, we must follow His example.”
Philip Yancey, *Where Is God When It Hurts?*, p.325

By Dr. Tracy Scott

“Dr. Scott, I am in pain. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer two years ago and I was told that I needed surgery. I was too afraid to go through the surgery and last month, my doctors told me that the cancer had spread to my stomach. I am here today because I have pain, no place to live and I am depressed. I was staying with a family, but they kicked me out. My two children refuse to take me in and they want nothing to do with me; because they blame me for the sexual abuse my husband committed against our daughter. My husband is the father of our daughter’s child and the kids blame me. Can you help me?”

The challenge of overcoming adversity can be a journey of pain, revelation, discovery and healing. Each time I am confronted with my own challenges or with another’s journey through adversity, there’s at least one important concept I try to remember and that is that God has a purpose for my life. I trust that as you come to understand this concept that it will help you stay strong during your time of growing through plagues and pain. For II Corinthians 1:3-4 states “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

Understand that God has a purpose for your life:

In the midst of suffering through injustices such as Katrina, Jena 6 or the coerced abuse of child rape molestation, it may be easy to understand why many people question whether God has a purpose for their lives; and if so what?

Solomon like so many of us spent a period of his life seeking its meaning. He struggled with basing the purpose of life on material things and pleasure. “Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor.” Ecclesiastes 2:10

You may recall a time, in which you were feeling down, maybe you had over spent your checking or saving account, or maybe a bill was due and you did not have enough money to pay it. For others, maybe it was a racist employment environment, or a disagreement with your spouse, mate or child. No matter what the situation, you felt discouraged. In order to feel better or to move through adversity, you went shopping, fishing or ate your favorite meal. For many people (churched and un-churched) moving through adversity means having an affair, whether emotional or sexual. Some times people turn to alcohol, drugs, sports or they become workaholics. In many cases, people in positions of authority, when they become stressed due to the afflictions of life, cope with adversity by abusing the weak, the vulnerable or those in subordinate positions (people of Color are often the victims of this type of abuse). All of these behaviors directed at coping with adversity bring immediate pleasure and gratification.

And like Solomon, you may have access and the opportunity to experience these instantaneous enjoyments. They can make you feel better; sort of take the edge off. But you find out that it does not last. You recognize that you have exalted yourself and that you have become a slave to your immediate zestful appetite and the maladjustment of coping with adversity; but you did not get the fulfillment that you sought. The bills did not get paid and you still need to work on your relationship with your spouse.

As you experience some momentary short-term success of dealing with life’s plagues, by turning to the titillations of society, you continue to realize that the challenges keep coming and coming. They don’t stop. You understand that all the ways in which you have tried to relieve the pressures of adversity were not genuinely successful. You can point to some small victories, but over and over again, no matter what you do, no matter what you try, nothing brings long-term satisfaction.

It is at this point that many people began to accept the fact that they cannot control their lives and they conceive that there is no help. Hence, over time, as they continue to live and undergo the obstacles of life, they view their outcome as unchangeable and accept that they are helpless, no matter what they do. They believe that it’s futile to keep trying and that there is no hope. It is during this inclination that causes stress and leads to despair and depression. It starts in the mind; pessimistic thoughts and ends with ultimately questioning the purpose of life and giving up.

Solomon was forewarned by his father David, but probably did not internalize David’s message. Solomon tried to live life apart for God and eventually suffered these thoughts. In the end, he finally realized the he could only turn to one master. And in that Master (God) contained all the answers. “Whatever one is, he has been named already, for it is known that he is man; and he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.” Ecclesiastes 6:10

The bible seems clear that God has at least three purposes for our lives:

To teach us to trust Him and to learn how to love and worship Him. I Peter 1:7
To teach us to depend always on His grace and goodness. Knowing Christ as Lord and Savior is needed, but it is the living the Christ life that ultimately is what depending on Him is all about. II Corinthians 12
To teach us to follow Him. Matthew 16:24-25 states “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it”.

The answer is yes, God does have a plan and purpose for each of us. He also loves all of mankind despite the fact that He allows plagues and adversity in our lives. I also pray for each and every one of you that these words will be a source of encouragement to help you carry your burdens and hold fast to the Lord until you are strong enough to intercede for someone else. Remember, it is God’s mercy and grace that holds you close, so don’t let go!

Article Source: http://www.articles.narrowisthepath.com

Dr. Tracy Scott Healthy Living Seminars www.healthylivingseminars.org

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