The Blessing in Adversity



When I was about five years old, I lived with my family in Enterprise, Alabama for a few months while my father attended an advanced aviation course at nearby Fort Rucker.

What makes Enterprise, Alabama especially memorable is a strange monument they have in the middle of town. You can't miss it. In fact, you have to drive around it because it sits right in the middle of the road. The monument is a statue to the boll weevil.

It's probably the only monument in the world erected in honor of an insect. It certainly wasn't done because of its aesthetic value, the boll weevil is a particularly ugly-looking creature. Surprisingly, it was erected because of the devastation the boll weevil caused to the cotton crops of the surrounding area!

Why did they honor this pest? Well, had it not been for the boll weevil, the local economy would have continued its unhealthy dependence on its one-crop, one-product economy. Until then, everything depended entirely on cotton. When the boll weevil came, the farmers and all the other businesses that were reliant on the cotton farmers were forced to recognize the need to diversify.

In the long run, they saw that the boll weevil had, in fact, done them a favor by destroying their crops. No longer were their eggs all in one cotton basket. They started raising hogs, peanuts and other cash crops, and the entire area was better off for it.

I think it is to those southern farmers' great credit that they were able to see this adversity for what it really was a great blessing. Too often, we see difficult times as something to avoid something only to endure. We usually don't see the benefit until much later if at all. If we look back at the things in our lives that were the most trying, the most painful and frustrating, we have to admit that there was value in it (if you can't see this, you probably aren't seeing it from a distant enough perspective).

Our lives are far more enjoyable (certainly more instructional) if we view each thing that happens to us as just that: a happening. Remember, it's not what happens to us, but our response to what happens to us that makes the difference in the quality of our lives. I believe that everything that happens can be a lesson.

Next time things don't seem to be going the way you want, ask yourself what the positive aspect is. What's the benefit in the adversity? You'll have greater enjoyment and learn more in the process.
By Michael E. Angier

Blessed is the [one] who perseveres under trial, because when
he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life
that God has promised to those who

love him.

James 1

A True Friend Never Gets in Your Way Unless You Happen To Be Going Down

One evening when a woman was driving home, she noticed a truck driving very close behind her.  She stepped on the gas to put a little distance between them, but when she sped up, the truck did too.  The faster she drove, the faster he drove.

Frightened at being pursued this way, she got off the freeway, but the truck followed her.  She turned up a main street, hoping to lose him in traffic, but he even ran a red light in pursuit.  Finally, near the point of panic, she pulled into a service station and bolted out of her car screaming for help.  She was horrified to see the truck driver spring from his vehicle and run toward her.

But then...not even looking at her, he yanked open the back door of her vehicle and pulled out a man who was hiding on the floor of her back seat.

Her pursuer had not been the real potential for danger in her life!  The truck driver had spotted the man, a convicted rapist, leave a cafe and hide in her car shortly before she returned.  His chase was not an effort to harm her, but to save her, even at the risk of his own life.

We often find true, faithful friends in those who have been close to us for years, but rarely in strangers.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17

You Should Never Let Adversity Get You Down

Except On Your Knees


Many people see abundant spring rains as a great blessing to farmers, especially if the rains come after the plants have sprouted and are several inches tall.  What they don't realize is even a short drought can have a devastating effect on a crop of seedlings that have received too much rain.

Why?  Because during frequent rains, the young plants are not required to push their roots deeper into the soil in search of water.  If a drought occurs later, plants with shallow root systems will quickly die. 

We often receive abundance into our lives--rich fellowship, great teaching, thorough "soakings" of spiritual blessings.  Yet, when stress or tragedy enters our lives, we may find ourselves thinking God has abandoned us or is unfaithful.  The fact is, we have allowed the "easiness" of our lives to keep us from pushing our spiritual roots deeper.  We have allowed others to spoon feed us, rather than to develop our own deep personal relationship with God through prayer and study on His Word.

Only the deeply rooted are able to endure hard times without wilting.  The best advice is to enjoy the "rain" while seeking to grow even closer to Him.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life , nor angels, nor principalities, not powers, nor things present, nor things to come shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38,39

The Best Way Out is Always Through

On this Friday before the Labor Day holiday, I am grateful for so many things.  This touched my heart this morning, and I wanted to share it with you.  I hope your day is everything you want it to be...