Category Archives: Adversity

How to Use Your Bad Experience

Posted on January 22, 2021 by russellmckinney

Tom Wallace tells the story of a time when he received a phone call in which he was told that a certain family was in need of pastoral comfort in the emergency room of the local hospital. Tragically, the family’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Adversity, Disappointment, Discipleship, Doing Good, God's Work, Individuality, Influence, Ministry, Problems, Service, Suffering, Trials, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

Posted on January 11, 2021 by russellmckinney

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1, N.K.J.V.) Some people just have to worry, even when there is nothing happening that is worrisome. They are like the patient in the mental … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Comfort, Courage, Depression, Doubt, Encouragement, Eternal Security, Fear, God's Love, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, Grace, Inner Peace, Needs, Peace, Problems, Sickness, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Should the Christian Pray Imprecatory Prayers?

Posted on December 30, 2020 by russellmckinney

The word “imprecatory” means “to invoke evil upon” or “to curse.” In accordance with this definition, many passages from the Bible’s book of Psalms can be accurately described as being imprecatory prayers. Here are seven such examples from a pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Anger, Discernment, Discipleship, Forgiveness, Persecution, Prayer, Prayer Requests | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Going the Extra Mile

Posted on December 18, 2020 by russellmckinney

In Business By the Book, Christian financial consultant and author Larry Burkett told the story of how he once became the victim of a bad long-term lease. The mistake he made was renting an office space in a building that … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Business, Character, Discipleship, Doing Good, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Giving, God's Work, Influence, Ministry, Perseverance, Problems, Reward, Service, Sowing and Reaping, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Has Somebody Kept You From Your Milk & Honey?

Posted on December 7, 2020 by russellmckinney

A study of the life of Moses will show that he didn’t get to live the life he should have. Rather than lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8), he … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Comfort, Disappointment, Encouragement, Eternity, God's Word, God's Work, Heaven, Leadership, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Service, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Offenses Must Come

Posted on November 23, 2020 by russellmckinney

“Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (Matthew 18:7, N.K.J.V.) The Greek word translated as “offenses” in this verse is skandalon, and it’s a word that … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Depravity, Faithfulness, God's Work, Ministry, Problems, Service, Sin, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, The Devil, Trials | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God is Watching. But That Doesn’t Have to Be a Bad Thing.

Posted on November 20, 2020 by russellmckinney

One day some kids were assembled for lunch in the cafeteria of a Christian school. On one table, at the end of the food line, sat a big bucket filled with apples. Taped to the bucket was a staff-written note … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God's Omnipresence, God's Omniscience, God's Work, Needs, Perseverance, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Can God Make a Way Where There Seems to Be No Way?

Posted on November 11, 2020 by russellmckinney

(“Questions From Israel’s Exodus” series: post #11) In the previous post, I explained that God’s route for Israel’s exodus from Egypt was not the commonsensical route that anybody would have expected them to take. Rather than have the Israelites head … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Comfort, Courage, Depression, Disappointment, Doubt, Encouragement, God's Omnipotence, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, Needs, Perseverance, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Restoration, Series: "Questions From Israel's Exodus", Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Does God Lead Us Along Routes That Don’t Make Sense?

Posted on November 9, 2020 by russellmckinney

(“Questions From Israel’s Exodus” series: post #10) God had to use unprecedented plagues, ten of them, to get Pharaoh to release the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage. At last, however, Pharaoh did relent. The Israelites’ departure from Egypt was sudden … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Choices, Commitment, Courage, Decisions, Doubt, Dying To Self, Faith, God's Will, Leadership, Obedience, Series: "Questions From Israel's Exodus", Service, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Does Doing God’s Will Sometimes Make Situations Harder?

Posted on November 2, 2020 by russellmckinney

(“Questions From Israel’s Exodus” series: post #7) God got Moses to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of their Egyptian bondage, but getting Moses to step into that role took some doing. First, God had to answer all … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Criticism, Disappointment, Doing Good, Doubt, God's Will, Leadership, Ministry, Obedience, Persecution, Perseverance, Personal, Problems, Series: "Questions From Israel's Exodus", Service, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment