“Adversity” This is the weekly email devotional of WhoUWith? Ministries (2004)   “One of the many great paradoxical truths of the Christian life is that the greatest adversity often produces the greatest blessings.” –Chuck Colson Is it really true that tough times make tough people? We all make plans and have dreams, but when life interrupts our best-laid plans, what do we do? How do we respond? Adversity is not something we may face; it is something we will face. Let’s be honest most of life’s obstacles are too big for us and that is exactly where God wants us to be…dependent on Him and not ourselves. What does God’s Word say?: A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Proverbs 24:10 There are two places we should go when we are overwhelmed with the adversities of life. To those who know us and love us. Those who are going through the struggle with us, or have already been through the challenge and know how to get to the other side.. The second place to turn when life has turned on you is to the One who gave you life. Let’s put this in some training terms…adversity is God putting more weight on the bar. The only way an athlete can get stronger is by increasing the amount weight he places on the bar during his daily training. An athlete never gains strength by lifting the same weight every day. Similarly, God desires for each of us to get stronger in our walk with Him. There are times in life I wish He wouldn’t load the bar like He does, but in the end I’m stronger for it! What about you? What weight are you carrying today? It may seem too big for you, but it is just right for God. Don’t “faint in the day of adversity”, show the strength of your faith. Look upward and press forward! Just a thought!