Category Archives: Adversity

A Different Way of Responding to False Accusations

How do you respond when someone accuses you falsely? I must confess that my first reaction is to rise to my defense, jump right back at the person, and go for the jugular with my comeback. For me, responding in … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Character, Complaining, Criticism, Discipleship, Humility, Justice, Persecution, Perseverance, Personal Holiness, Revenge, Reward, The Tongue, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Self-Preservation & Jesus

A man interviewed for a job at a famous art gallery that housed dozens of priceless masterpieces. As part of the interview process, he was asked, “If a fire broke out in this gallery and you could only save one … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Brokenness, Commitment, Courage, Crucifixion, Death, Disappointment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Extending Forgiveness, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Work, Human Life, Ministry, Missions, Obedience, Persecution, Perseverance, Personal Holiness, Preaching, Priorities, Problems, Prosperity, Revenge, Sacrifice, Sanctification, Service, Spiritual Warfare, Submission, Suffering, Trials, Truth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Hop of Faith

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Complaining, Current Events, Depression, Disappointment, Faith, Fear, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, Needs, New Year, Problems, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A Profound Question

A missionary was once asked if he liked his work in Africa. His reply was as follows: Do I like this work? No. My wife and I do not like dirt. We have reasonably refined sensibilities. We do not like … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Children, Choices, Church, Church Attendance, Commitment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, Giving, God's Will, God's Work, Love, Mercy, Ministry, Perseverance, Problems, Prosperity, Sacrifice, Service, Stewardship, Suffering, Sunday School, Trials, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Problem of Deprived Harvests

Judges 6:1-6 describes a pitiful situation. An alliance army of the Midianites, the Amalekites, and some other unnamed “people of the East” (referring to the lands located east of Canaan) was absolutely terrorizing the Israelites as the Israelites tried to make their … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Disappointment, Disobedience, Fear, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Rebellion, Satan, Sin, Sowing and Reaping, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, The Devil, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fear

George Truett, the well-known Baptist pastor, was asked to speak twice a day for a week-long series of messages at a leading university. Before Truett’s arrival, the President of the college sent a questionnaire to the students, asking them to … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Aging, Comfort, Courage, Elderly, Faith, Fear, God's Love, God's Provision, God's Word, Inner Peace, Needs, Problems, Salvation, Sickness, Trials, Trusting In God, Work, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Filling in the Gaps of My Learning

I grew up in a small, rural, conservative Southern Baptist Convention church. I believed in Jesus as my Savior at a young age, was baptized, and joined the church. I went to Sunday School just about every Sunday and stayed … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Bible Study, Children, Church, Disappointment, Discipleship, Doubt, Faith, Parenting, Persecution, Perseverance, Personal, Prayer Requests, Problems, Scripture, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, The Bible, Trials, Trusting In God, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

God Sent? Or God Allowed and Used?

Somewhere along the way in my ministry, I picked up a daily devotion book written by Phillips Brooks. Brooks was a famous Episcopalian pastor in the Boston area in the 1800s. In the devotion for May 2, he writes: Faith … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, God's Omnipotence, God's Omnipresence, God's Omniscience, God's Will, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Rebellion, Sickness, Sin, Spiritual Warfare, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

God Loves the Word “Through”

Have you ever noticed that God loves the word “through”? Take Isaiah 43:2, for example, where He says to Israel: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Complaining, Courage, Disappointment, Discipleship, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, God's Guidance, God's Provision, Needs, Patience, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, Teaching, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“What Are You Doing Here?”

Elijah had recently experienced one of the greatest victories of his life in defeating and executing Queen Jezebel’s 450 prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:17-40). Afterward, he probably hoped that Jezebel would admit defeat and stop her … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Angels, Backsliding, Change, Choices, Courage, Depression, Disobedience, Faith, Fear, God's Will, God's Work, Ministry, Obedience, Persecution, Problems, Service, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment