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Topic: JOY (10/28/21)
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TITLE: Tranquility in Adversity | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shanta Richard
11/03/21 -
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But how do I find it? In my search for an answer I come across the story of a man called, Job, who lived many centuries ago. He is said to be an enormously rich, good, 'perfect and upright' man in whom was found no evil (Job 1:1 ). Then suddenly disaster of the greatest multitude descends upon him. He looses everything - his wealth, his children, and his health. I see him as an utterly devastated man covered with sores, sitting on ashes, bewildered by his circumstances . He doesn't seem to be experiencing tranquility in his adversity.
As I continue my search I find another man. His name is Jonah. He disobeys God's commands and goes his merry ways and ends up in the belly of a big fish in the midst of floating digested and partly digested fish pieces. He cries out for forgiveness and deliverance . This also is not a picture of tranquility in adversity.
As I continued my search I found my answer in two passages of scripture. In Psalm 40, David talks about struggling in miry clay. I know that the more you struggle to free yourself from mire the more it will drag you down. He stops struggling and reaches out to a strong hold , God's hand pulls him out and places him on a firm rock and gives a song of joyful victory.
The other passage is in Isaiah 43. God tells Isaiah that when he is crossing the river, God will not allow the waters to flow over him. In other words don't look at the waters, it will swallow you up. Look above the force of the river and God will deliver you from its clutches.
God does provide tranquility in the midst of adversity as in the case of Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16 :25)and Habakkuk in the midst of a famine (Habakkuk 3:17). Both of them found the joy of the Lord while they were still suffering. They were not focusing on their difficulties, they were rejoicing and praising God. And that I think is the key to tranquility in adversity.
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