Category: Adversity

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Adversity Contentment Peace

University of Adversity

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Phil 4:11-12 (NIV) Paul had experienced life in the palace and in the prison. He knew the extremes of life whether spending a night and a day in the open sea (2 Cor 11:25) or being shown unusual kindness by the islanders on Malta (Acts 28:2). The erratic conditions of life where no match for Paul in that he learned the secret of being content. Circumstances did not dictate Paul’s level of joy and peace. The process God uses to develop us includes the varying conditions we experience on this broken planet. The fallen world we abide in provides us with a fitness center of equipment to build our spiritual muscles and to stretch our faith. God does not waste the resistance we face in this life. In fact, without resistance, there is no growth. Paul lived with the tension of straining and pressing (Php 3:13-14) in collaboration with the tranquility of contentment. We are to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead. We are to press on toward the goal for which Christ took hold of us. Contentment is best learned in the university of adversity. You learn contentment on the playing field of life. Experiencing real life in the real world of adversity will bring you to the place of learning to be content in any and every situation. If you have to move one inch to find contentment, you will never find it. Are you learning the secret of being content? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Adversity Rejoice Suffering Trials

Real Trials: Rejoice

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3 (NIV) Rejoice is a choice. Living in a fallen world comes at a price. The consequences of sin have rippled throughout our family tree all the way back to Adam and Eve. When sin entered the human race, trials became the shadow. Trials are as much a part of life as the air we breathe. The question is not a matter of whether we will face trials or not in this life. The issue is how we choose to respond to the trials we face. Trials are inevitable in a fallen world. However, we can choose to rejoice in the midst of the trials we navigate. We need not be surprised by the multifaceted trials that come our way. Instead, we need to live in the ready mode in order to anticipate trials and more specifically, plan our response to trials. Will you choose to rejoice? You cannot choose your trials, but you can choose your response to the trials. “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.” Phil 1:29 (NIV) “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NIV) Consider the trials that you are currently experiencing. How will you respond today? Will your choice be to rejoice? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor (This devotional was originally posted in ’07 or ’08. I’m taking a break from writing for a season of personal renewal.) Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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Adversity Spiritual Maturity Trials

Asking the Right Question

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 (NIV) Have you ever been perplexed by a season of adversity? You look for answers. You search for the source of your adversity and then you try to figure out why this is happening to you. Your mind is flooded with questions. Adversity can immobilize your faith or activate your faith depending on the questions you ask. Instead of asking why, ask what! Humble yourself before the Lord and ask Him what He wants to do through your season of adversity. If God permits adversity to come your way, He will use it to build you into the man or woman of God He desires you to be. In his book, Tempered Steel, Steve Farrar writes, “Spiritual maturity never comes in a package with microwave instructions.” Spiritual maturity is not instant. Spiritual maturity is developed slowly through the process of walking with God in the midst of the diverse terrain of life. God will utilize the hammer of adversity and the chisel of suffering to perfect the character of Christ in you. If God allows adversity to come into your life, He will use it to conform you into the image of Christ (Rm. 8:28-29) and to develop your spiritual maturity. Consider the adverse circumstances you are currently facing. Is it more beneficial for you to know why you are experiencing this season of adversity or to know what God is up to? God knows where you are. God knows how you feel. He knows your fears, your frustrations, and your anxious thoughts. God knows where you will be on the other side of this adversity. Draw near to God (James 4:8) and allow Him to accomplish His work in you. You are God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10). Perseverance is being developed through the testing of your faith. Will you be mature and complete? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Adversity Assurance Faith

Don’t Bypass Jerusalem

“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’” Acts 23:11 (NIV) Paul experienced intense opposition as he shared the gospel in Jerusalem. He caused turbulence in the Temple among the crowd and chaos as he faced the court, the Sanhedrin. His body was almost torn into pieces by the mob and almost flogged by the military. Paul’s encounters in Jerusalem produced the fruit of failure from the worldly perspective. However, God was at work in the midst of severe adversity. Don’t bypass Jerusalem; God will use it to get you to Rome. Our natural proclivity is to take the path of least resistance. We dodge the potholes of life and seek the terrain of minimal pain. Yet, God often allows us to go through adversity to get us where He wants us. God will use the hammer of adversity and the chisel of suffering to conform us into the image of Christ and to prepare us for our next assignment. Moses had to leave the luxury of the palace to go to the desert. There are some things God wanted to teach Moses in the desert that he could not learn in the palace. By the way, the bush wasn’t burning in the palace. God used the desert to train Moses in shepherding to equip him to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. Moses had to go through his personal Jerusalem, the desert, to get to his Rome. If God allows adversity in your life, He will use it for your good and for His glory. Jesus comforted Paul with the assurance of testifying in Rome. Paul had a longing to go to Rome to preach the gospel. God was giving Paul the desires of his heart. Just when Paul thought that Jerusalem was the end of the road, God built a bridge through adversity to Rome. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Adversity Assurance Comfort Faith Jesus

Storms in Life

“As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.” Luke 8:23 (NIV) Why does God allow storms to come into our path? God is more concerned about our character than our comfort. His passion is for us to become like Christ. If God allows a storm, He will use that storm to reveal Himself and to refine our character. There are some things you learn in a storm that you cannot learn on the calm sea. The storm provides the environment in which we learn to trust God by taking Him at His Word. We learn to view our circumstances from God’s perspective. The disciples were in great danger from their personal perspective. While the storm was raging, Jesus was sleeping. Jesus knew the outcome before they even set sail. Jesus oriented His life according to the Father’s agenda. God’s will supersedes any storm and any distraction. God will accomplish His plan in the midst of life’s storms. Your character development matters to God. The friction of each storm in your life will be guided by the hand of God to sand the rough edges from your life in order to perfect Christ in you. If God allows a storm to come into your life, He will orchestrate the movement of that storm to conform you into the image of Christ (Rom. 8:28-29). God works in all situations to bring you into perfect union with Christ and to effectively portray Christ through your life. Every storm has a season and is used of God for a divine reason. What storm are you in? Have you detected the loving hand of God at work in the midst of the storm to produce Christ-likeness in you? Maintain God’s perspective while you trust His provision to see you through. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Adversity Circumstances Conflict Resolution Family

Family Spats (4)

“John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.’” Luke 3:7-9 (NIV) When conflict arises, we can choose to react or respond. John the Baptist confronted his hearers with the reality of their spiritual condition and exhorted them to product fruit in keeping with repentance. Of course, this created a major conflict for the hearers to resolve in their own lives. They could react to the conflict or respond to the conflict. Fortunately, they responded with an appropriate question: “What should we do then?” John instructed them to share what they had with others including food and clothing. To the tax collectors, John exhorted them not to collect more than required. To some soldiers, John told them to stop extorting money and accusing people falsely and to be content with their pay (Luke 3:10-14). What kind of conflict are you wrestling with in this season of your life? Have you been confronted by a message that brings deep conviction? Is there a strained relationship that needs attention? How are you navigating the conflict? You have a choice. You can react in the flesh or respond to the conflict God’s way. If God has allowed conflict to enter your domain, then God will use it to conform you into the image of Christ and to strengthen your faith. God will use the immediate conflict you are confronting by giving you the grace you need to experience a personal breakthrough. Are you teachable? Are you willing to hear from God in the midst of your circumstances? Is your heart tender enough to ask God, “What should I do?” God knows what you are dealing with. God knows what you are feeling. He is in tune with every fiber of your being. Remember, before you were even born, God knew you (Jer. 1:5 & Ps. 139:13). How will you respond to the conflict in your life? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Adversity Prayer Praying

Praying Through the Pain

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” James 5:13 (NIV) Independence is valued in our society. Being strong and self-sufficient tend to be the marks of success by the world’s standards. However, God’s economy has a much different value system. It’s not about personal strength, but reliance upon God’s strength. Self-sufficiency is replaced with dependency upon God and His provision. Success in God’s economy is marked by instant obedience and alignment with God’s plan. Part of God’s plan includes our relational connection to God through an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. The love relationship that God has made available to us in Christ is nurtured by our daily communion with God in prayer. The prayer connection flows from God to us and from us to God. God invites us into an intimate prayer connection that radiates from His heart of love and our response of awe and wonder. Imagine being able to share your heart as well as your heartaches with the God of the universe. We have that amazing privilege to bring everything to God in prayer. In Christ, we have been given access to the Creator of the universe. Are you in trouble? Are you experiencing challenging circumstances or strained relationships? Don’t delay! Take your burdens to the Lord in prayer. Empty the contents of your heart before the loving and faithful God that you have come to know by experience. God has provided you with the ultimate communication instrument called prayer. Just pray! Begin to articulate to God whatever is perplexing you and whatever is bothering you. God can handle your hurt. God can make the fog lift. Be still and know that He is God (Ps. 46:10). God’s line is never busy and yes, He can hear you now! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Adversity Fruit of the Spirit Learning Teachable

University of Adversity

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Gal 5:22-23 (NIV) In my journey of walking with God over the past twenty-nine years, I have discovered that God will focus on the fruit of the Spirit in your life that is most neglected. Whichever fruit of the Spirit you are least evidencing is the fruit that God will seek to develop in you through the university of adversity. I’ve taken many courses in that particular university. If you lack the fruit of the Spirit, love, then God will allow difficult people to come into your life in order to give you opportunities to develop that specific fruit of the Spirit. If you lack patience, God will allow trying circumstances to come into the domain of your daily life in order to produce patience in you. That’s why I never ask anyone to pray that God would give me patience. If you lack gentleness, God will orchestrate situations which will give you relational opportunities to develop that particular fruit of the Spirit. In all things God works for your good (Romans 8:28) and God’s goal for your life is conformity to Christ (Romans 8:29). Anything in your life that doesn’t look like Christ will be removed through God’s loving hammer and chisel of adversity. Don’t be surprised by the adversity God allows into your path. God is building you into a portrait of His grace. Christlikeness is God’s goal for your life! So how do you look? Do you look like Christ? Is there any attitude or behavior that is not Christlike? Are you drifting from God or drawing near to God? Is the fruit of the Spirit evident in your conversation and your conduct? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Adversity Serving others

Serving In Adversity

“And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’” Mark 15:39 (NIV) What was it about the final hours of Jesus’ life that made an eternal impact on the centurion who approved of the punishment Jesus endured? What were the features of Jesus’ death that convinced the centurion that Jesus was the Son of God? I wonder how many crucifixions this centurion had witnessed before he even knew Jesus existed. Perhaps the centurion had personally witnessed hundreds or thousands of these executions. There was something about the way Jesus died that changed everything for this centurion. Maybe the centurion overheard the conversation between Jesus and the thief on the cross who said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom”(Luke 23:42 NIV). Jesus responded to the thief, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”(Luke 23:43 NIV). Perhaps the centurion saw the grace of God in action as Jesus put the needs of someone else before His own. The centurion could have been standing close enough to overhear Jesus say to His mother, “Dear woman, here is your son” and to the disciple whom Jesus loved, “Here is your mother”(John 19:26-27 NIV). Maybe the centurion detected the deep love that Jesus had for His mother and the compassion He extended from the cross as He made sure His mother’s needs would be met. Of all the crucifixions the centurion assisted in, perhaps he had never seen such love. Adversity creates unique opportunities to show the love of Jesus as you serve others. Jesus exemplified servitude in the midst of extreme adversity. Are you watching for opportunities to serve others while you navigate the terrain of adversity? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Adversity Growth

Growing Through Adversity

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV) Adversity is as normal in this life as the rising and setting of the sun. Living in a fallen world accentuates the instability of morality. Selfishness and sinfulness permeate the global landscape. Since the Fall of man, we have combated our three enemies: Satan, our flesh, and the world. Eliminate Satan and you still have to contend with the cravings of the sin nature and the gravitational pull of the world. Yet, all three enemies are alive and well. Jesus prayed that God would protect us from the evil one (John 15:17). The enemy is at work seeking to destroy the work of God in us and the work of God through us. In the midst of the battle, God converts what the enemy meant for evil into good (Gen. 50:20). Remember, if God allows adversity into your life, He will use it for your good and His glory. Will you grow through adversity as you go through adversity? Will you allow God to build your character and develop your faith through the assembly line of adversity? Your faith is of greater worth than gold to God. God’s goal is that your faith be proved genuine so that it may bring glory to God when Jesus Christ is revealed. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Adversity Witness

Witnessing Through Adversity

“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” Phil 1:12-14 (NIV) Adversity creates opportunity. The Apostle Paul knew adversity on a first name basis. He experienced the fangs of adversity as he served God and sought to spread the Gospel message. During his first imprisonment in Rome, Paul wrote a letter to the church he started in Philippi. Paul acknowledged how God used the adversity in his life to advance the Gospel. Instead of Paul’s imprisonment halting the movement of the Gospel, God utilized Paul’s adversity as an avenue for the Gospel to saturate the land. One of my favorite quotes from Rick Warren is, “Everything that happens to a child of God is father-filtered.” If God permits something to come into your life, He will use it for your good and for His glory. God does not waste pain. God does not waste the trauma we experience while living in this fallen world. God redeems our pain and creates opportunities through our adversity to spread the Gospel. What kind of adversity are you currently experiencing? Don’t ask “why”, but ask “what” is God wanting to accomplish through the adversity He has allowed into your life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Adversity Spiritual Maturity Suffering Trials

Real Trials (4)

“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 (NIV) Spiritual maturity may involve adversity. The child of God is not exempt from adversity. Often, God will allow adversity to enter our journey in order to move us toward spiritual maturity. God expects us to grow spiritually. Mediocrity, lethargy, and apathy are foreign to the maturation process. God enables us to grow through seasons of uncertainty and through seasons of drought. We are reminded of our inadequacy and our total dependency upon God. God’s desire is for us to not lack anything. Trials produce the canvas upon which the providence of God is painted for our personal engagement. “…until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Eph 4:13 (NIV) “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” Col 4:12 (NIV) Our response to adversity demonstrates our level of spiritual maturity. Our response to difficult circumstances can also propel our spiritual maturity to the next level. Here’s the bottom line: Are you becoming more Christlike in the midst of the trials you face? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor