The Power of Adversity

Have you ever been desperate for peace?
My friend received a phone call.  A phone call that changed her plans.  All of her plans.  Results of tests were received.  Cancer has returned for the third time.  The world seemed to tip over. Peace left. Desperation began to settle in.

The one thing I know for sure is that God wants us to have peace regardless of  adversity.  It is the plan of God for us to have peace. 

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NLT)

There is power in the Prince of Peace.   As we  prepare for Christmas . . . we need to recognize that the presence of Christ . . . is the presence of Peace  . . . the kind of peace we are desperate to have . . . when we face adversity.

In our need, Christ comes and gives  peace. . . the kind that makes no sense in the face of adversity . . . but changes how we face and manage life.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.   But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4: 6-9, TNIV). 

Adversity may crush . . . perplex . . . persecute . . . and strikes us down . . . HOWEVER . . .  Christ . . . the Prince of Peace . . . took on our adversity on the cross . . . and put it in the grave.  In other words, the power of adversity is dead.  So.  While we go through adversity . . . it can't have us when we receive Christ . . . who gives us all-surpassing power. We will not be crushed, in despair, abandoned, or destroyed in the face of adversity. 

Take time to see the power of the Prince of Peace.
Take a stand against adversity, which may come but has no power.
Live in the peace of Christ, who put the power of the adversity in the grave.
Celebrate the Prince of peace.

Learning to KickStart the day in the peace of God rather than in the power of adversity,
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)