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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Adversity and Destiny


To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7 (NIV)

Have you been side swiped by adversity? I don't mean in a car. I mean in your heart---your life. Something that has stumped your toe--tripped you up.

A storm in your life that may have caused you to run for cover. Only maybe you didn't run for the right Cover.

Think about it for a minute.

What about Job? You know, Job in the Bible. The one who had it all and lost it all... but by the mercy and grace of God, had it all and then some---again!

And what about Joseph. Sold by his brothers into slavery. They thought they'd never see him again. Little did they know---Joseph had a destiny--and God used the adversity in Joseph's life to usher in the destiny-- for the well being of his family.

Okay, those are some men, what about Naomi? She lost her husband and her sons. What did she have. Adversity with a capital "A". But she also had a daughter-in-law that vowed to never leave her side. And God had a plan.

Okay, if those aren't enough, think about Esther. She's on my mind since we've been studying her life. She lost her mom and dad---maybe at the same time, maybe close together---the point is---she lost them both. And being raised by her uncle...well, I call that some adversity. But she also had a destiny. Designed by the Master Designer Himself!

We can go on and on here!

Have you ever considered that the very adversity surrounding you--- may be shaping your life for your destiny? Or, consider that it could be shaping someone else's destiny.

I know. It's hard to imagine that losing a job would play any part at all into shaping up your destiny. But I remember a time when Jeff lost his job. Many years ago when our daughters were very young, Jeff was "let go".

Sound familiar? Well, let's just say he had principles and the boss did not. He wanted Jeff to lie --deceive a fellow employee. He wanted Jeff to do some "dirty work" for him. And Jeff refused. In a nice way of course. But...that ended that. It also ended our income.

I remember distinctly going into the closet in April's room. She was the baby---and had the most space in her closet. I didn't need much space---for I only stood and pounded the wall ---and asked God "why"?

"Why now Lord? Don't you see? We'll have no food! What if we get sick? We won't be able to pay our bills!"

We were Christians. We believed God "could" meet the needs...we just never had to "depend" solely on Him for them. Little did we know that God had a plan.

Looking back at that time, I can't really tell you what we did next--besides pray. I know we prayed. God not only supplied one job, but He supplied two. Two part-time jobs and then soon, very soon, a full time job opened up and Jeff walked in.

As Jeff settled into the new job, he made some friends. One friend was very nice to Jeff and they began to talk daily about the difference in Jeff's life over some of the others that were there. It was not long before Jeff was leading this young man into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!

Not many months after that, we attended our first A.M.E. Church service as that very same young man preached his first sermon! How glad we were to be a part of that day! And it came about through our adversity. God brought about this man's destiny.

Care to give God what's troubling you? I assure you He can handle the adversity going on in your life right now. Rest in His care. He's assembling all the pieces into your destiny.

And might I say....what a picture it makes!


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© The Knightly News 2009.

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12 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

Beautiful my friend, love you.

April 28, 2009 at 5:42 AM  
Blogger Omah's Helping Hands said...

Awesome, awesome post Angie! So very true. How good God is! Hugs, love and blessings to you.

April 28, 2009 at 9:04 AM  
Blogger LisaShaw said...

Angie dear sister this power-packed message needs to be made into a BOOK! My goodness is full of LESSONS. This is huge:

"We were Christians. We believed God "could" meet the needs...we just never had to "depend" solely on Him for them.."

Bless you for sharing with us!

April 28, 2009 at 12:03 PM  
Blogger LauraLee Shaw said...

Oh YES, HE is the only One who has EVER been able to comfort me and counsel me perfectly through my trials. He may provide others in His wisdom and timing, but to first turn to Him produces peace.

FABulous post!

April 28, 2009 at 3:05 PM  
Blogger elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Praise God for the sacred shaping going on in our lives, even when we don't expect it and especially when we can't see it. He is faithful, despite our thinking he has disappeared.

Beautiful, Angie.

peace~elaine

April 28, 2009 at 3:33 PM  
Blogger Jennsmere said...

Sweet Sista....you knocked the ball out of the park with this one!!! I can't tell you how much I needed to read this today. I still have tears in my eyes...adversity to destiny...

"And it came about through our adversity. God brought about this man's destiny."

"Care to give God what's troubling you? I assure you He can handle the adversity going on in your life right now. Rest in His care. He's assembling all the pieces into your destiny."

I'm going to put these two quotes where I can see them every morning! A great reminder of God's constant care and direction...

Love you!!!!
Susan

April 28, 2009 at 5:33 PM  
Blogger Karen said...

This was all wonderful but the five words that stood out to me were " And God had a plan".

AMEN!! We may not know exactly when or how or where, but HE has the plan for everything!!

Praise the Lord!

April 28, 2009 at 10:09 PM  
Blogger missspider(charlotte) said...

I will remember that through all this pain there is a plan.

April 28, 2009 at 10:47 PM  
Blogger Pia said...

angie, this is awesome! yes, i've been side swiped so many times and where i am now is at far the greatest of all side swiping i've experienced. but thank you for reminding me that God has a purpose.

He's assembling all the pieces into your destiny. --- amen! thank you God that you are in control.

love this, angie. this really spoke to my heart. God bless you. (((HUGS)))

April 29, 2009 at 12:28 AM  
Anonymous Kathryn Lang said...

Sometimes the things that seem bad are not really bad any way - it's just that most of us do NOT like change, particularly if its unexpected.

April 30, 2009 at 7:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for posting this! My older son is going through some terrible times in his life right now and it is also affecting the whole family and others. Thanks for reminding me that no matter what life throws at you that you (even though we dont understand why) that Our Wonderful God has a plan!

Thanks!!!! Love in christ

April 30, 2009 at 10:27 AM  
Blogger Buffy said...

Thank you for the reminder.

I have heard that people who never face adversity will never amount to much, they are too used to everything coming easily. Also, we would never appreciate the blessings in life if we didn't sometimes lose them for a time.

May 13, 2009 at 5:20 AM  

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