When adversity comes...

A couple of decades ago, during a time of challenge, I wrote this thought in my journal:

God offers not protection from adversity, but a place to stand when the earth shakes, a glimpse of light when darkness falls, a voice of harmony when the orchestrated world plays out of tune. The key to finding that solid ground, seeing that guiding light, and hearing that redemptive melody lies in faith.

Behind that stands an understanding of faith as trust that all will be well, confidence that a way forward will appear, and conviction that strength from others and beyond will uplift us and allow us to travel the grace-filled path God provides. Sometimes composing such a thought proves easier than living it. Here are a few reflections on living our faith during times of adversity.

When adversity comes, remember that it is not always necessary or wise to travel as quickly as the world and others sometimes want us to travel. When the world seems too much with us and demands rapid decisions, we can identify those decisions that can wait and make them wait. When wading through rapid waters, short and slow steps work best. Similarly, some wounds take time to heal. Just as we can't run a marathon with a broken leg (although we might be able to participate walking with crutches or in a wheelchair), we need to consider carefully what to ask of a broken or burdened heart. Finally, some questions yield their fruit only after lengthy and often painful reflection. When we look back, what we experienced as barren time often seems mysteriously fertile.

When adversity comes, we can identify someone who needs us and find a way to serve them. When practiced with reasonable limits and expectations, sharing the burdens of another usually reduces the load we are carrying. The Christ in us meets the Christ in others and we discover the truth behind the promise, "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." God's mysteries do not always make sense, but they bless nonetheless.

When adversity comes, we can recall the second half of the Great Commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself (emphasis mine). Times of challenge often bring self-doubt and loss of esteem. When hardship attacks our sense of self, we can fight back by doing something good for ourselves. Time spent doing something we enjoy or a small act of self-indulgence can make us more at peace with ourselves. That regularly allows us to believe in and reach for wholeness.

When adversity comes, we can deepen or renew our commitment to prayer. Prayer takes varied forms, but all of us have experienced God's presence or can learn to seek it. Better still in adversity, we can read a psalm and wait for God to speak, gaze at nature and wait for God to appear, listen to music until God whispers within it, or turn our palms up, form a cup, and name the blessings poured into them in the midst of the challenges we face.

Many of the paths we travel as we live our faith are rocky and uphill. Many pass through valleys of shadow. Yet, even in those places goodness and mercy seek us. Spread a welcome mat for them. Set out bread and wine for them. Allow knowing that goodness and mercy will find us to suffice until they appear. They will not eliminate all our troubles, but they will provide a place to stand, a glimpse of light, and a whisper of harmony that will sustain us until the path grows more broad and smooth.

Glad to share ministry with you, MWPC saints,

LP