A fierce tornado destroyed his home. Finally, when the rains stopped and floods subsided, he returned to look at the damage. All had been destroyed. His home was gone. His belongings had been washed away. There was little more than the foundation and piles of rubble.

But as he stood at the site, dazed and discouraged, he noticed something shining in the midst of a pile of debris. As he looked closely at the glimmering object, he discovered it was a large piece of gold bullion. He did his best to find the owner but to no avail. No one knew where the gold came from or who it belonged to.

After waiting for weeks for an owner to come identify the gold he was told by his attorney and the police department to keep what he had found. What the flood destroyed and took from him also brought him wealth.

Many of us have stories that are similar to this one. What we once viewed as a tragedy turned into a triumph. What we once believed was a trial and time of testing eventually turned into a gracious gift of God’s grace as He protected us from being destroyed by the Enemy.

Beethoven, the great musician lost his hearing but became a great composer and his music still lives. John Bunyan was thrown into prison and forgotten for years. But through his adversity he glorified God by writing Pilgrim’s Progress. Fanny Crosby lost her sight but wrote over 6,000 Christian songs.

“We went through fire and water,” wrote the Psalmist, “but you brought us to a place of abundance!”

Prayer: Enable us, Father, to trust in the wisdom of the plan You have designed for each of our lives as we follow You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 66:12 You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.

“I do not know why God ever made me,” he cried in deep despair. “God has not made you yet,” said his friend. “He is making you and you do not like what is going on.” That story neatly summarizes the tenth Psalm.

Whoever wrote this psalm was asking the same question. “O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide from me when I need you the most?” But is this a question or an accusation? If God is distant or hiding, could there be a reason? What is going on here? Is it God’s doing or the Psalmists? Who is responsible for the feelings of isolation or separation? Is it doubt or is it distrust? Or is it neither?

This psalm does not end where it begins. It concludes with a bold proclamation, “The Lord is King forever and ever!” And a short time later we read, “Lord You know the hopes of the helpless. Surely You will hear their cries and help them.”

Is God ever absent from the lives of those who look to Him for salvation? It surely seems so. When the ones who claim they do not need God seem to prosper and we who worship Him are forced to go without, where is He?

The author does not speculate about what God is doing nor why He does not respond to our cries immediately. He simply reminds us of the grace of God and that in His time and in His way He will hear us and comfort us. Our faith only grows through adversity.

Prayer: Give us courage, Father, to be patient while You work within us to shape us into Your likeness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 10:17 Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear,

One day a grief-stricken man prayed, "Dear Lord, I'm at the end of all my resources. I have nothing left."

"My child," answered the Lord, "when you come to the end of your resources, you are just at the beginning of mine."

One of God's great gifts is allowing us to come to the place of hopelessness and helplessness. When we realize that we have nothing left to cling to and no one available to depend upon, we can begin to realize how much we need the Lord. There are many times in our lives when we are convinced that we are brave or strong, energetic or invincible only to have the "rug pulled out from under us." We are left feeling alone or abandoned, deserted or defeated.

It has been said that it is easier for someone to stand adversity with God than prosperity without Him. We learn in times of trouble and trials that "my grace is sufficient" or "Lo, I am with you always." In times of plenty, we may be fortunate enough to realize that "life does not consist in the abundance of things."

Eventually, we as Christians may come to the place where we realize that all things are possible with and through Christ. But rarely do we realize this until we get to the other side of whatever may have brought us to the "end of our resources." Thank God for "ends."

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for those times in life when we grow in Your grace and stand in Your strength. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture: Mark 10:27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

“Why are you sitting there just staring off into space?” one friend asked another.

“Well, this year has been awful. It’s the worst year that I can ever remember. Nothing’s gone right and it seems that everything’s gone wrong. So I’m trying to figure out what was the worst thing that happened. But there’s too much competition for first place.”

Call them what you will: Misfortunes or mishaps, troubles or trials, adversities or afflictions. They are part of all of our lives and no one is immune to them.

But some seem to get through them, over them or around them better than others. Does their strength come from a superior source? Do they have a resource to call upon that is unavailable to the rest of us?

There is a story of the men of Judah standing before the Lord with their little ones. Suddenly, the spirit of the Lord came on one of the men. The message that came to him to give to the others was simple: “Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”

All Christians have God’s Spirit in them Who can work through them. If we stand firm in our faith and ask for God’s help, He will fight the battle for us and triumph.

Prayer: Lord, when adversity tries to stare us down, may we look up to You to save and sustain us. Amen.

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:13-17

Fanny Crosby was only six weeks old when the doctor recognized that she was developing a problem with her vision. The doctor treating her did not follow the appropriate procedures and she became blind.

Miss Crosby grew to love the Lord, though times were difficult and learning to live life blind was not easy. Through all of the trials she endured she did not become bitter. Rather, she became a better servant for her Savior. She even forgave the doctor.

Though she was blind, she saw God move clearly in her life. She wrote many hymns and through the hymns guided people to God more graciously and gracefully. She could not see what was going on in her life, but she could see the One Who was the Light of life.

It is not an experience that will bring us down or destroy us. It is our response to it. We can fill out minds and hearts with fear or faith, sarcasm or strength, hate or hope.

Adversity became a spring board to Fanny Crosby. She wrote more than eight thousand hymns. When adversity comes our way, God is with us and He will provide a peace that passes all understanding as He calls us in new directions.

Prayer: Help us, Heavenly Father, to turn to You when adversity invades our lives. May we believe that You have a perfect plan for each of us that will bring us to completion in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-12 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. (NIV)

During a major golf tournament the players were having a difficult time with their game because of strong winds. As they attempted to line up their putts, the wind kept blowing them off balance. Most of them played a terrible game. But one, Tony Jacklin, shot a remarkable seventy-one. At the end of his round a reporter asked him his secret. “I used the wind,” he said. “I let the wind work to my advantage.”

As in golf, so it is in life. If we Christians let the winds of adversity work to our advantage, we can accomplish great things.

James tells us that as we face trials and our faith is tested, we develop perseverance. The character trait of perseverance in a person is a mark of maturity. When we are able to persevere in trials, we will become more complete and not lack for anything. God will use our life experiences to change us into godly men and women. We will be able to comfort others as Christ has comforted us. Jesus has called us to use our adversities to further His kingdom and serve others. When we do this, we are glorifying God with our whole lives.

Prayer: Lord, continue to teach me how to use the trials in my life to become more like You. Give me the joy that only You can give me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: James 1:2-4

For months a homeless woman wandered the streets of her city alone and in agony. She did not know where she was, where she was going or even her name.

One day a thunderstorm broke out. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck near by and jolted her. As the crackling subsided, she realized that her memory had returned and she was able to remember the details of her life. Happily, she went home to her family.

We read in the Psalms of a king who had a similar experience. Though no doubt he knew who he was and where he was, he had been wandering aimlessly. Once he asked God to teach him good judgment and knowledge, reminding Him that he was aware of His commandments and knew their value for his life. He admitted that he had gone astray and as a result was “afflicted.” And he added, “It was good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn Your statues.”

If we let them, the storms in our lives may serve to bring us back to, or perhaps, much closer to our Lord Jesus Christ. It always seems as though the grass is greener after the rain.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, when we experience the storms of life, help us to realize that You are there and that You want to bring us closer to You: in Your Name. Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 119:65-72

His family must have spent a fortune on his education. He studied under the greatest teachers of his day. He was thoroughly trained in law. Became a well-recognized warrior. Traveled extensively. Enjoyed athletic competition so much that he knew all the rules and measures used to evaluate athletes. One day God spoke to him in a dramatic way and his life was changed forever. He put his complete trust in God and decided to follow Him completely. Eventually, things changed. Life did not become easy for him, but difficult. As a result of his obedience, he suffered shipwrecks and stoning. He faced death from maddening mobs and whips that lashed his body. Even though he was thrown into prison, his spirit was never shattered nor his faith flawed.

How did Paul endure these hardships? He turned his dungeon into a mine of diamonds. He wrote some of the world’s finest letters, inspired early church leaders, formed the theological foundation of Christianity and endured hardships as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

While in prison he wrote, “We know that all things work together for good.”

Prayer: Father, help me to find Your comfort in conflict, Your solace in sorrow and Your encouragement in times of discouragement: in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 8:28

During World War Two, a young boy was sent from England to the United States for safety. While crossing the ocean, the ship he was on was hit by a torpedo and he was thrown into the water. A rescue boat came and lifted him out of the water. As they lifted him to safety, his first question was not “Why?” It was “Which way is America?” What an important lesson!

All of us have dreams that someone has torpedoed. We have all experienced the feelings of being “lost at sea” at one time or another. When events such as these occur, we have a choice. We can look back in bitterness or look ahead in anticipation. With God, no one or nothing is hopeless. During a difficult time in his life, the Apostle Paul said, “We get knocked down.” He quickly added, “But we get up again and again and keep going!” Our faith in God will increase during the storms of life if we look to Him for His help and strength. The events of life that would overwhelm us will be replaced by “the God of all comfort” Who will wrap us gently in His arms.

Prayer: Father, as the storms of life swirl around me, and as frightening waves sweep over me, I pray that the peace of Your presence will assure me that You are with me: in Your name. Amen.

Scripture for Today: Matthew 19:16-26