Adversity

I have learned through many situations that adversity in life is inevitable. Life brings rainstorms and ominous clouds. No human escapes adversity, because when everything comes into a certain unfortunate alignment, adversity follows. What is most important about adversity is not how intense it is or how long it lasts. What is most important is how deeply the soul experiences it. How do we face it? How do we respond to it? Do we confront it alone? Do we seek support from those who care about us? Do we open our hearts to the grace and healing of God?

Of course, we can be tempted to just give up and give in to adversity. We can choose to allow it to spill its bitterness all over us and through us. We can simply let adversity have its way in us.

Or we can choose another way, the way of grace, the way that leads us beside still waters, the way that restores our soul, the way that leads us out of the storm clouds and into the brilliantly colored sunset skies. I think that this choice is the one that God desires for us. I think that God wants to guide us through the trouble and on toward better days.

Rabindranath Tagore expresses it so eloquently:

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”