The Merits Of Adversity

THE MERIT OF ADVERSITY

OBSERVATION: DAVID IN PSALMS 22 PRAYS TO GOD IN HIS GREAT DISTRESS. HE FERVENTLY SEEKS ANSWERS. READ PSALMS 22: 22-24

INTERPRETATION: PSALMS 22:24 (NASB) FOR HE HAS NOT DESPISED NOR ABHORRED THE AFFLICTION OF THE AFFLICTED; NOR HAS HE HIDDEN HIS FACE FROM HIM; BUT WHEN HE CRIED TO HIM FOR HELP, HE HEARD. PSALMS 22: 24 (THE BOOK) FOR HE HAS NOT IGNORED THE SUFFERING OF THE NEEDY. HE HAS NOT TURNED AND WALKED AWAY. HE HAS LISTENED TO THEIR CRIES FOR HELP.

POINTS TO PONDER:

DAVID CREATED MANY OF HIS OWN ADVERSITIES BY SINNING, YET GOD STILL HEARD HIM WHEN HE REPENTED AND CALLED OUT TO HIM.

NO BELIEVER IS IMMUNE TO ADVERSITY.

HE DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND CALL OUT TO HIM IN ADVERSITY.

1 PETER 5:6-7 (NKJV) THEREFORE HUMBLE YOURSELVES UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD, THAT HE MAY EXALT YOU IN DUE TIME, CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM, FOR HE CARES FOR YOU.

NOTICE THE EMPHASIS ON “ALL” YOUR CARES. “ALL” YOUR CARES INCLUDE ANXIETY AND WORRIES. FAILURE TO CAST ALL YOUR CARES PRODUCES NOTHING BUT MORE OF THE SAME UNRESOLVED ISSUES.

PSALMS 85:8 (NKJV) I WILL HEAR WHAT GOD THE LORD WILL SPEAK, FOR HE WILL SPEAK PEACE TO HIS PEOPLE AND TO HIS SAINTS; BUT LET THEM NOT TURN BACK TO FOLLY. PSALMS 85:8 (THE BOOK) I LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT GOD THE LORD IS SAYING, FOR HE SPEAKS PEACE TO HIS PEOPLE, HIS FAITHFUL ONES.

APPLICATION: LET ADVERSITY RUN ITS COURSE. PERMIT GOD TO WALK YOU THROUGH ADVERSE TIMES!