"Dancing in the Rain!"
1 Peter 1:6-7, Romans 5:3-5


It would be awesome if we could forecast the storms of adversity in our lives. It would be wonderful if we knew for the next two weeks that life would be tough...you know someone would tell us "You are going to experience some lows Monday through Friday but on Saturday you will have some highs." It would be so cool but that just does not happen. Adversity at times just pops out of nowhere, doctor tells us the test results came back positive for Cancer, we show up to work and find out we are being let go, or the dream we once had has turned into a nightmare. It seems unfair at times doesn't it. We begin to cry out to God "Why Lord, why would you allow this after all I have done"

But just like we grumble at the rain when it pours because it hampers our day, farmers rejoice because their crops are getting the needed substance to grow. Adversity my be tough to go through but if handled in a Godly way you will learn about your faith in Jesus.

You don't know how strong your faith is until it is put to the test. Adversity causes us to experience grief but we rejoice in it because adversity shows us the genuineness of our faith. Do you trust God that God will provide for you? When you have no food in the refrigerator and no money in the bank, do you still trust God will provide? Do you trust God with your health? When the doctor says "I'm sorry but there is nothing else we can do", Do you trust God to heal you the way He sees fit? Do you love your enemies? When your best friend or relative betrays you, do you still love them? Do you believe that God works all things out for your good, when you are passed over for the job that you were qualified for, do you still believe all things work out?

This is how God uses adversity in our lives. Trials refine us and make us into the person God desires for us to be if we are willing to learn and grow. Everyone wants God to help them to change a be a better Christian but are you willing to go through some adversity to get there? Test show us how much we have learned and how much more we need to learn. At the end we are graded, either we passed or failed. Thanks be to God if we fail there is grace and opportunity for growth, If we pass we can see how God has changed us. 

So rejoice in that moment of adversity because God is growing you up to be a mature Christian. Rejoice that God sees some areas of improvement in your life and He has chosen to allow this adversity to grow you. Rejoice because the person who entered the storm will be nothing compared to the person who comes out of the storm. Rejoice because regardless of what adversity you are facing God is standing with you, in front of you, behind you, and His Spirit is living in you. Dance in the rain friends.

Stay focused, you can do this!

"In His JOY!"