“Everything seemed to be going great, and then all of a sudden, WHAM! From out of nowhere 
I was blindsided! I never saw it coming.” We’ve all heard comments like this from those who have encountered disappointments, heartaches, and outright tragedies. Their “whams” run the gamut from unexpected problems with a spouse, a child, a friend, or a relative to difficulties with a coworker, a boss, or a company. Many times adversity comes in the form of an unexpected illness or a life-altering disease or the death of a loved one. But what surprises me is not that people encounter adversity in life but the fact that they are so surprised that it happens to them. They seem to act as if adversity were a rare event in human history, as if it were somehow a unique and abnormal event. In reality, adversity is as much a part of life as eating, sleeping, and breathing.
While none of us desire to experience difficult challenges in life, no one ever makes it though life without their share of adversity.
Why do we experience adversity? How do we best deal with it? Jesus had profound insights and answers to both of these questions in His teachings and in the example of His life. It is extremely important for us to recognize this, because if we deal with adversity the wrong way (if we respond to adversity wrongly), it can leave us confused, cynical, angry, and bitter. And, with our Adam nature, unfortunately that is too often our inclination. But if we deal with adversity the right way, we will be stronger and better. Handling adversity the way Jesus taught us and demonstrated in His life will produce a kind of compassion, empathy, wisdom, and love that nothing else can. It will lead us to spiritual fulfillment and personal success.
So, I challenge you today to look at every adversity, every challenge, as an opportunity for Jesus to become greater in your life. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28).
