Everyone experiences adversity. It’s a part of life no one escapes. In fact, if you haven’t experienced adversity you haven’t lived long enough.

Something unpleasant happens, often unexpected, and we suffer. Sometimes it’s a mild inconvenience like a flat tire, a toothache,failing an exam,lack of school fees, a stubbed toe. Sometimes adversity is more severe like an illness or the death of a loved one. Or the car engine coughs rather than purrs, Your house broken into, we lose a job, your fiancee leaves you. Things don’t work out the way we hoped or planned—instead, we experience trials and tribulations.

In the Old Testament, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery with evil intent. Yet God used these misguided brothers to accomplish his purposes. He placed Joseph in high Egyptian office so Joseph could later save those very brothers from famine—“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). Joseph’s adversity demonstrates that not all of our trials are due to personal sin (James 1).

Job, too, experienced adversity—overwhelming, spirit-crushing adversity, none of it due to his disobedience. While it’s possible to bring adversity upon ourselves by ignoring God’s commands, it’s also possible that many of the problems we face in our lives come upon us because we live in a fallen sinful world (Romans 1).

In the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (1:5). You and I are not accidents. We are on this earth because God wanted us to be here, knows that we are here, has a purpose in our being here, and determines how long we’ll be here.

Now if that is true, and it is, it stands to reason that what happens to us occurs within the sovereign purpose of God for our lives. There are no accidents. God’s sovereign engagement in our lives includes the troubles we just escaped, the troubles we’re in now, and the troubles we’re about to be in.

Our lives might be Adversity Central, but God is walking right beside us. The Psalmist said, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4, KJV).

God knows when we rise up and when we lay down. We belong to the Lord, and so does history itself.

Behind the scene, God is preparing something for our good. Its not a surprise to Him that we are going through a tough moment.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Whatever you are going through will soon become a great testimony and encouraging story coz God is taking you through it.

Isaiah61;1b He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor to comfort all who mourn,and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,the oil of joy instead of mourning,and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair..Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion,and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance.And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.

Am in the process of writing a book to unfold this misery and will be out by end of the year.

My brethren,be strong and rejoice in the Lord through it all coz He is working behind the scene for your good. @AmbSteveMbugua #ByWordsOfOurMouth