WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DECEMBER 06, 2024
TOPIC: PRAYERFULLY ENDURE ADVERSITIES
BY T. O. BANSO
“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10 New King James Version).
Adversity refers to a difficult or unpleasant situation. It means opposition, misfortune, trouble, or affliction. The King James Bible Dictionary defines adversity as “An event, or series of events, which oppose success or desire; misfortune; calamity; affliction; distress; state of unhappiness.” Adversities could be small or big. They could last long or be brief.
Life is full of adversities. As someone exits one, he may soon enter another. Adversity is not always because of someone’s sins or mistakes. Nobody is immune to adversities. Life is not a bed of roses. Adversities are often part of advancement, promotion, enlargement, etc. Adversities could be part of life’s trials or challenges. Sometimes adversities could be caused by the adversary – the devil could use demons or human agents.
Adversity endurance builds character and is a requirement for destiny fulfilment. This message focuses on this type of adversity, not adversities that result from sins. Whoever finds himself in adversity because of sin should repent and ask for God’s mercy to deliver him.
No matter what someone’s calling in life is, the ability to endure adversity is very important and significant because there will always be unpalatable situations. In this case, after one endures adversity, he will enjoy prosperity. James 1:2-4 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (New King James Version). Note in this scripture the word patience. The New International Version uses “perseverance.” Another word for endurance is perseverance.
2 Peter 1:6 says that one of the things we must add to our faith is perseverance or patient endurance. Without endurance or perseverance, someone will be frustrated. Hebrews 10:36 says, “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (New King James Version). Note the phrase “you have need of endurance.” Endure adversities. One sometimes runs into unfavourable situations or adversities while doing the will of God but one must endure so as not to shipwreck one’s faith. Being in the will of God does not exempt one from adversities.
The will of God faces adversity, as the disciples of Jesus and Jesus faced the storms on the sea but still reached their destination (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Matthew 14:22-33). You must run with endurance the race that God has set before you (Hebrews 12:1). This race is not devoid of adversities, and with faith in God and patience, they cannot stop you from reaching your goal. The writer of Hebrews says, “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (Hebrews 6:12 New International Version). In the exercise of your faith, you must pray to endure adversities. The Bible says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray” (James 5:13a New King James Version). Suffering is also adversity. When you face adversities, you should pray to endure and overcome them.
Psalm 50:15 says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” (New King James Version). Trouble is also adversity. Prayerfully endure adversities. See Jonah’s testimony: “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice” (New King James Version). God will hear your voice as you cry to Him in your adversity.
Don’t grumble or whine; pray. “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed” (New King James Version). Note the expression “Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.” That was how they endured and overcame adversity. They didn’t keep quiet or wail. Never stop praying in your adversity (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
In 2 Corinthians 6:4-5, Paul highlighted the adversities he went through in ministry – he was beaten and put in jail; he faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and went without food. These are sufficient to make someone give up but Paul didn’t. He endured adversity.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (New King James Version).
In another place, he listed his suffering: “Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?” (2 Corinthians 11:23-29 New King James Version).
The apostles were persecuted, beaten, humiliated, vilified, etc. yet they endured. Paul said, “For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now” (1 Corinthians 4:9-13 New King James Version).
Life is full of adversities that you must endure if you will fulfil your destiny or become all God wants you to be in life. Paul told Timothy, “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5 New King James Version). Afflictions are adversities but they are surmountable. Psalm 34:19 says many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Endure adversities. Paul said to Timothy, “Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3 New Living Translation). The church in Philadelphia was commended for, among other things, keeping God’s command to persevere (Revelation 3:10). Endure; persevere. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13). You must not only endure, you must endure to the end for only those who endure to the end shall be saved (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13).
Prayerfully endure adversities with the help of the Holy Spirit; don’t faint. “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10 New King James Version). Every adversity has an expiry date! God will see you through adversities. He will work all things together for your good (Romans 8:28). God will give you victory and establish you. “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (Peter 5:10 New King James Version).
Don’t be afraid as you face life’s adversities. God is with you. He will never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5; Isaiah 41:10; 43:1-2). Face them prayerfully. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Be strong and of good courage, as God told Joshua. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 New King James Version).
Endure adversities with faith in God. God will honour your faith and reward you. “But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” (2 Chronicles 15:7 New King James Version). Prayerfully endure adversities. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5b).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: I shall not faint in the times of adversity in Jesus’ name. Holy Spirit, help me to prayerfully endure adversities and overcome them. Adversities shall not stop me in life. God will deliver me from them all.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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