Don’t Be Surprised by Adversity

You are going to experience problems in life. You’ll have times when your world is tossed upside down and everything is shaking and you don’t know which way is up.

These hard times aren’t a “maybe.” They’re guaranteed. Jesus said we shouldn’t be surprised by them. In the Message paraphrase, he said it like this: “I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world” (John 16:33 MSG).

He’s saying shake-ups are a normal part of life in a broken world. In heaven everything is perfect, but on earth everything is broken because of sin. Every relationship is broken, and every person is broken. The economy is broken. Even the weather is broken.

Because everything on earth is broken, we shouldn’t expect things here to be perfect. In fact, when something bad happens in your life, instead of saying, “Why me?” you could just as well say, “Why not me? I live here on earth.”

But no matter what adversity you face, you can know that Jesus is in control. He said, “Take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” When you trust him, you can rest in that truth.

Romans 8:28 shares the same truth: “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (NLT). Does that mean even the worst things? Yes. Even your own sins? Yes.

God can turn crucifixions into resurrections. He can bring good out of bad. Anybody can bring good out of good, but only God can change even bad things into good.

Whatever is causing a shake-up in your life right now, you can trust that God will use it for good. And because of that, you can respond with acceptance and hope rather than surprise and despair.

The Bible teaches, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world” (1 Peter 4:12–13 NLT).