Dealing With Adversity

When in God’s purpose and plan, that’s when adversity arises. Adversity may be death, disease, joblessness, economic crises, betrayal by friends,  etc. Adversities can be of many types.

John 5:1-9

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ² Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethseda, having five porches. ³ In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. ⁴ For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 

⁵ Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw hi lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” ⁷ The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps before me.” 

⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

Just like the many people were waiting on the pool to be stirred, in our world today there are many who wait for that perfect moment for their situations to change. Many, in waiting, end up complaining, just like that man at the pool of Bethseda. It does not matter how long you have stayed in your situation, and the longer you see you have stayed the faster it will be to get out, for Jesus to get us out. Instead of stretching our hands to seek help from others who we think will get us out of the situation, we should open the eyes of our spirit and see Jesus’ hand stretched out to help us, deliver us out of the situation. We should keep our eyes and see Jesus’ hands at all times, stretched out towards us to help us.

Remember the story of Abraham and Lot, when they had conflict over land and pasture. Abraham trusted God, and thus was able to prosper in a land that seemed barren, while Lot led himself to the land of Sodom.

We should rejoice in the Lord always, as the Bible tells us. As we are rejoicing in those adverse situations, God will definitely deliver us out of the situations. God tells us to rejoice even in adversity as He knows that joy comes in the morning. After adversity comes joy.

How to deal with adversity

•  Be hopeful. Even when there is nothing and all things look gloomy, be a person who will be hopeful. Reflect in a positive way, in all things giving thanks. If you are a person who always focuses on negativities, we will be people who will have negative energy. If you are such a person, it is time to kick away the negative energy, kick away friends who have negative attitudes, and look for ones who focus on positivity. In counseling we say that there is no need to hold on to anything that does not help us. Sympathy is good in adversity, but we should not be people who are always seeking sympathy. Rise up from your sympathy, have constructive thinking and do something about your situation, being hopeful.

• Talk with people who go through what you are going through. We have been raised up and trained to put up a face even when we have problems, not to let anyone know our problems. We have to identify genuine and trustworthy friends who will help us solve our problems. I’m not saying we complain to our friends, but rather share what we are going through with a positive mind. Men especially should look for genuine friends who they can share, as women are good at this.

• Take time to reflect. If you do not take time to reflect and understand yourself, you will end up hurting many people, pouring your hurt into people’s lives. Reflection helps us see pain from the past, deal with it and avoid hurting others, especially life partners. There are four feelings that have troubled the world for a while:

*  Anger: We should know our symptoms of anger, to know when we are getting angry, and know how to deal with anger in our lives. If we know when we are getting angry and deal with it, we will have solved 60% of the problems.

*  Guilt: It is easy for guilt to be covered up, as many people are ashamed of guilt and do not want to be told they are wrong, thereby covering up guilt with other emotions such as anger. Pride covers up guilt.

*  Sadness: This comes when we have lost something. When you feel sad, ask yourself what you have lost. The feeling of loss can also come out as anger. It is good to understand sadness, and deal with it.

*  Hatred: Hate comes when we are wronged. This is the feeling that will hurt us. Hatred hurts us more than it hurts the one we hate. It is good to express ourselves when we are hurt, which makes it easier to forgive. The best favor we can do for ourselves is to forgive. We should forgive, and know how to forgive, as it is a must for us to forgive if we have to let go of heavy burdens (Matthew 11:28).

When adversities come, they bring about the above feelings. When adversity strikes, instead of people dealing with it, they start developing the above feelings and thus end up masking them, taking them out on each other. This is why it is good to take time to reflect on our feelings. We have to make a choice, whether to be bitter people who hit back at people, or to fill ourselves with positive energy.

It all depends on us, and how we will be able to deal with the adversities that will come our way. Do not blame others when adversities come our way. We should take responsibility, work hard and solve our problems, depending on God, knowing that He is the one who charts out our purpose.

• Be obedient. The man by the pool of Bethsaida, despite having stayed 38 years, rose up and walked. When asked later, he did not even know who told him to rise up and walk, but still he obeyed. Knowing well that it was on a Sabbath, he still chose to do what was not normal. We should be obedient to the Spirit of God, who always is trying to help us to deal with adversity, in dealing with feelings. Some of us have ignored the Holy Spirit so much in the past, and we need to get back to being obedient to Him.

• Be assertive. The man by the pool of Bethsaida, when he met with the men who were questioning him as he was carrying his mat and walking home, did not waver on what he knew. When we are assertive and strong willed, we will not waver but walk on and hold on to what we know. Be firm, not being a person who is swayed by people’s opinions.

• Be prayerful. Do not pray as a Christian, pray as an heir. An heir claims what is theirs, not hoping to get. If you have a problem, know what God has to say about your problem, through His word.

• Be patient. The man by the pool of Bethsaida was patient for 38 years, and eventually he received his healing, encountering God.

Even in difficult situations, let the Lord have His way.

-- Mary Kang’ethe. 

29/12/13 Sunday afternoon service sermon, Teaching Transformation Ministry, Joska.


Mary Kang'ethe is a counselor and teacher by profession, and a friend of Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./ Bypass intersection), Next to Eastgate Restaurant.