When Adversity Can Become Your Friend … Hello Weekend Musing-Friends! At the end of this week, Al and I have encountered people from all over the USA, several from out of the country, and one funny tent-camper who is pretty sure he’s an alien—well not really but he has a very funny story. Talking with folks, helping them out, and often hearing about their lives and travels can be interesting, there is sadness, joy, adventure, etc. However, a recurring theme is in every story. It is, as you can imagine, the adversity of Year 2020 and the losses, etc, and the ongoing pandemic and what comes next.

One young couple gave me a refreshing thought when they said, “we got married at the courthouse because the pandemic didn’t allow gathering, a week later we both lost our jobs and then our apartment, so we tossed our camping gear in our SUV, and got out of town and have been traveling since. We love it! Did you know there is a silver lining in adversity?” OK, as a chaplain I should have had a quick answer, but their fresh honesty and zest for life had me saying this profound response: “Wow” – yep, profound huh? So this weekend musing is based on this couple who left this morning and are one their way to Utah!

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does. —1 Peter 5:10-11 The Message

The famous English writer, Somerset Maugham, loved to do short stories about ordinary people’s lives. His one about a janitor at St. Peter’s Church in London is something we should all think about today. He wrote:

“It was discovered one day that this janitor was illiterate – a fact he had concealed for some time. So the young vicar of the church promptly and immediately fired him. Without a job, the man decided to take the tiny savings he had to invest in a small tobacco shop, as tobacco was one of his own vices. His investment took off and he prospered, opening one shop after another until he had a huge chain of tobaccos stores. Obviously he became very rich. Since he still could not read or write, he called his banker to go over finances to see just where he stood. The banker commended him on his success and then added, “Look at all you’ve done. Imagine how much more successful you’d be if you’d learn to read and write?” The retort was somewhat sarcastic and for a moment stunned the banker: “I’d still be the janitor at St. Peter’s Church.”

Adversity will always play a part in our lives. Look up those who’ve had success (that doesn’t always mean finances) and adversity was a large role in that success. Why? Think about the process, like how do we learn, how do we grow? Take yourself back to when you first tried to spell or write, or do math – it was tough but without tough times we won’t learn, we won’t grow and sadly, we will not move forward in life.

The Christian life is NOT immune to adversity. Peruse the Scriptures and you’ll find that all over. One that always grabs my attention is Joseph, thrown in a pit, then sold by his jealous brothers, then accused falsely of rape and put in a dungeon—so many years of adversity—most of us would have just given up. But in that long wait, Joseph became strong, proved himself trustworthy and saved a nation from famine. And that’s just one story of hundreds throughout the Bible.

When was the last time you’ve been driven to your knees, your spirit filled with desperation…and then voila!—a light at the end of your long tunnel shines brightly! Often that is how God takes us through adversity’s dark shadows, helping to bolster our souls to keep on keepin’ on toward the light that brightens our day and gives us hope and healing.

It sounds curt to say “you should embrace your hardships” yet this is what the Apostle Peter tells us in today’s verses. We’re not alone in adversity, think of what Jesus went through—we pale in comparison to his unfounded accusations, beatings and crucifixion. He stayed on course because he trusted in God, and that is our example as well. So, not if but when adversity knocks on your door, think “opportunity” instead of dread. You may not become filthy rich with tobacco stores, but you will be filled with the richness of God’s grace, hope and peace and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to continue maturing in your faith walk…and that is something you can’t buy in any store—not even from Amazon!

Cyndy’s Musings: Sometimes we don’t want to remember adversity. But, remembering those hard times and how we grew through them can be a constant help in going forward! Think of the benefits you may have now that were not there before. Think of how you grew, of the new perspective and focus you embraced. Is there someone else you know that is going through really tough stuff? Seize the opportunity to share your story of God’s incredible grace and re-direction for your life. When you do, you can help them and continue to help yourself in growth and maturity in faith.