Seeing A Greater Purpose In Adversity

There are some days when quit looks real good. After the leaking oil line the day before, yesterday was one of those days that just did not make sense. We had an uneventful trip to our first event location. Everything was working good until we noticed the house heat (propane forced hot air) in the motor home was not shutting off. We finally pulled into a rest area and shut it down manually from outside.

We arrived at the track, parked and started set up. Set up is done in a sequential order. Coach set up, satellite launch, equipment and then the production suit. Since we were a day late, it would be essential that we all work to get things done. After we had the mid track camera platform in place, I decided to make a quick check on the satellite. It was up, but no lock in.

A quick call to our provider and the problem was diagnosed to be on our end. 6 hours later, the dish was up and online. What was the problem…not certain. After many hours of swapping cables, I preformed one more calibration check and it just started working. Satellite is not for the faint of heart!

Of course the whole time I’m messing with the dish, setup continued. Joanne and Jack did a great job finishing things up. This is good since they will be 1 of 2 teams we have on the road this year. BTW, the heat started working as it should as well. I think it was a dirty connection.

There are times when obstacles are placed in our path to keep us from harm. Other times they are used to teach us perseverance. Wisdom is knowing the difference.

Blessings

Seeing A Greater Purpose In Adversity
by Os Hillman

But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” – Acts 16:28

Paul and Silas had just been thrown into prison. An earthquake erupted and the jail cell was opened. It’s Paul and Silas’ opportunity. “Deliverance! Praise God!” might be the appropriate response. But this is not what Paul and Silas did. In fact, rather than leave, they sat quietly in their cell area. The guard, in fear of his life, knew that it would be automatic death if prisoners escaped. Paul and Silas did not leave because they saw a higher purpose for which they were in prison. They were not looking at their circumstance; they were much more concerned about the unsaved guard. The story goes on to explain how Paul and Silas went home with the guard and his family. Not only did the guard get saved, but his entire household as well.

What a lesson this is for us. How often we are so busy looking for deliverance from our circumstance that we miss God completely. God is looking to do miracles in our circumstances if we will only look for them. Sometimes as workplace believers we become so obsessed with our goals we miss the process that God involves us in, which may be where the miracle lies. What if that bill collector who has been hounding you is unsaved and he is there for you to speak to? What if a problem account has arisen due to something God is doing beyond what you might see at this time? Our adverse situations can often be the door of spiritual opportunity for those who need it.

I saw this personally when God allowed me to go through a number of adversities. It took some time, but I saw some great miracles as a result of those adversities. When God said that “all things work together for good for those who are called according to His purposes” (see Rom. 8:28), He meant all things. It is up to us to find the “work together for good” part by being faithful to the process. In the next adversity you face, tune your spiritual antennae and ask God for discernment to see the real purpose for the adversity.