When Adversity Strikes: Can We Face It With Courage?

Unannounced. Adversity strikes!

Red-hot. Searing.

An unwelcome arrival that feels totally unbelievable. Did I hear someone say “ludicrous”? Yes! Crazy, unbelievable, even bizarre.

Sucker punched, I find myself gasping at its reality.

Could this really be happening to us?

Certain as dawn, it settles in, burning all the way down to the depths of my soul.

Air! We need air!

As our world tilts, then crumbles around us, nothing seems as it was.

Crushed beneath the load, we look for normalcy, but it evades us. It’s just not there – no longer present.

Everything in me cries out “This is wrong…so very wrong!” right on the heels of shouting…

“This is too much, Lord. This can’t be happening!”

Suddenly, uncertainty, ambiguity, and an overwhelming burden become our new normal for the foreseeable future.

With the truth of this new reality, we find ourselves questioning…

“Is this your way, God? Or has the evil one penetrated our lives?”

In this gut-wrenching moment when reality shimmers with distortion, the truth I thought was so deeply rooted now wavers in the winds of a dilemma unlike any we have ever encountered. One that carries far-reaching implications – far beyond our control.

Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, my shattered heart reminds me of what I know is true…

“If we cling to God amid this travesty, we will see that He is who He says He is. He is enough… even for this!”

As the Spirit of God whispers this truth, I let it wash over me, and I find myself believing it once again.

Calamity smacks hard! It arrives uninvited, unannounced, and unwelcome.

As the Beloved of God, we are not exempt from trials.  At times, this feels harsh, yet each time I choose to cling to the reality of the cross of Christ, I find a comforting refuge there – a gift of peace that permeates my human understanding – even in times of great adversity.

God’s Word offers us courage and hope. 

“For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the LORD fills the earth. Psalm 33:5 NLT

While facing this time of trial, I come needy and thirsty for God’s Word. In myself, I have no courage. It is Christ alone who gives me the strength and courage to face the unknown path ahead. Once again, He becomes my hope amid life’s uncertainties. My hope is in the waiting, when I choose to let Him wait with me.

Tragedy, uncertainty, troubled times…they carry a weight that will cause our hearts to sag and our souls to cry out.

But God…

But God miraculously has a way of weaving the broken, blistered, shattered pieces of our lives into beauty and fruitfulness. This is His divine way! For our good and for His glory.

This truth enables me to step out in faith and proclaim with certainty that I will be strong and courageous, because I have put my hope in the Lord! (Psalm 31:24)

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 NLT

Fanny Jane Crosby was blind from infancy; she knew where her faith lay. Even amid such loss, she transformed her hardship into deep, expressive words of faith, trust in a God she could not see, and praise that lifted the Almighty.

With this deep Christ-centered passion, she penned the words to what would become a great hymn of the faith.

Pass me not, O gentle Savior

Written by: Fanny Jane Crosby (1820-1915)

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Thou the spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me;
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in heaven but Thee?

It has been said that Fanny Jane Crosby wrote this hymn after visiting a Manhattan prison in 1868. There, she taught prisoners about repentance and the Good News of Christ.

During one such visit, a prisoner shouted, “Good Lord, do not pass me by!” The prisoner’s prayer stayed with Crosby. Returning home, she composed this hymn.

What does it mean for you to choose God when life is falling apart and out of your control to solve or fix it? 

• Be strong and courageous:

What does courage look like for you today, in this time of adversity?

•  When I am weak, He is strong:

How is God inviting you to rely on His strength rather than your own?

• Fear not:

What fear consumes your mind? Which scripture speaks directly to you?

• Trust in the Lord:

Remember a past hardship when you felt God carry you. How does remembering give you courage for today?

• Put on the armor of God:

As you face uncertainty, what lies are you tempted to believe, and what truths does God offer to counter them?

• Trust in the Lord with all your heart:

Despite your struggle, what would it look like to rest fully in God’s care today?

Prayer:

Lord, my struggling heart cries out to You today. I feel overwhelmed and crushed by the weight of everything happening to me.

Pour into me faith that chooses to trust You despite what I see unraveling around me. I feel weak, but I desire to place my trust in You alone.

Turn my mind away from the ever-present realities I am facing today, lift my gaze from my problems, and fix my eyes, heart, and mind solely on You.

When my troubles overwhelm me, keep me ever mindful that You are the source of my hope and of all I need to navigate this time of uncertainty.

Infiltrate my mind with the truth of Your Word so that I will be strong and courageous as I place my hope in You.

Thank You for being my light and my salvation, guiding and rescuing me. As I look to You, I know I do not need to give in to fear, for You, Lord, are a strong fortress of safety, protecting me from every danger.

I praise You right now because I know You will work this out for my good and Your glory.

Even though I don’t understand how, I know that You cause all things to work together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose for them.

I love you, Lord. Keep me courageous!

I pray this in Jesus Mighty Name AMEN

(Scripture prayer taken from Psalm 27:1; Psalm 31:24; Ephesians 6:10-11; Romans 8:28)

Kintsugi is an ancient Japanese art form.

Repairing broken tea ware by reassembling each piece with gold creates a masterpiece that is richer and stronger than its original design.

This restorative process begins by recognizing that each broken or cracked piece is needed to re-create something of exceptional worth. In this accepting act, redemption is birthed. A rich story of beauty through brokenness.

The process of embracing our brokenness allows us to acknowledge our imperfections as needful, as we invite the Master Creator to make us into a new masterpiece.

It is in this yielding that we can experience true healing from God’s hands of mercy and grace.

Watercolor by: Linda Jane Dingeldein