How To Overcome Adversity With God

How well do you remember the old Mission Impossible television shows?  Maybe you have seen the movies starring Tom Cruise as the resourceful and resilient Ethan Hunt?

There are many little lessons in the Mission Impossible story lines. 

• The men and women serving the organization had a purpose for being involved.
  
• They had an objective.
• They needed training.
  
• They needed to be in submission to their authorities.
  
• They needed to be absolutely fearless!
  

Mission Impossible operatives came up against seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Instead of viewing it as a problem, they tackled it with resolve, putting their training to the test and working to overcome adversity.

Imagine how boring the Mission Impossible shows would have been if the agents never had any trouble with their missions?  The show wouldn’t have lasted a week, let alone the ten years it ran.

We face overcoming adversity in our lives, and unlike characters in a movie or television show, this is real.

As tough as things can get, we do have the comfort of knowing that God has a plan and we are part of it.  Perhaps it will be fun for a moment to imagine we are Mission Operatives, tackling the mission God has given us here on earth.

Tip #1 For Mission Operatives: You Must Always Be Advancing!

Life is not a passive activity. We are here for a reason and never want to forget that.  God’s plans for us go beyond just surviving each day—He’s leading us toward growth and a deeper relationship with Him, especially through challenges.

Tip #2 For Mission Operatives: This Is A Battle

When someone comes up against some form of adversity, I often hear the words: “I’m under attack!” as if it comes as some surprise.

Our enemy does attempt to advance and attack us.  However, if we do what we are supposed to do, we move on the offensive, not the devil.  

So when we run into some obstacles or experience some adversity, we are not under some surprise attack; we have simply come up against his defenses.  Don’t panic; God has everything under control.

Tip #3 For Mission Operatives: Expect Resistance

Ethan Hunt and his team came up against incredible resistance in the Mission Impossible movies.  You can bet that someone was just as determined to defend whatever they were trying to get at.  

Instead of being shocked at the resistance, Ethan and the others simply looked for the loophole.  And there is always a loophole.  

When you are on the mission of fulfilling God’s purpose for your life, He will show you where victory can be found.  Learning how to overcome adversity with God means we aren’t blindsided when we encounter resistance; we stay focused on His promises.

Tip #4 For Mission Operatives: Never Let Down Your Defenses

Overcoming adversity requires vigilance. Keep prayed up.  Keep in fellowship.  Keep accountable.  Keep checking yourself for progress and advancement.   

Do you know when someone is most vulnerable to attack?  When they are sitting still.  When they are overtired and can’t defend themselves, when they are not advancing, that is when the enemy can come along and blindside you.  

Can you be doing everything you are supposed to be doing and suddenly be hit with something completely unexpected?  Absolutely.  But is God still in control?  You bet.  

Tip #5 For Mission Operatives: Keep Your Eye On The Primary Concern

Our Primary Concern is to be in an intimate relationship with God and see His Kingdom grow.  

Adversity comes along, and we are tempted to take our eyes off the Primary Concern.  We get distracted by the problems, and pretty soon, we have lost sight of our purpose and try to “make it through.”

The problem with this is that as soon as one obstacle is handled, the enemy throws out another one.  If you are focused on the challenges, we’re missing the bigger picture.

Keep your focus on the Mission, and these temporary concerns will come into proper perspective.

Let’s consider Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Mary was a good girl.  Loving parents raised her with plans to get married to a good man.  She loved God and was obedient to His calling.  If anyone could hold to enjoying a life of peace, it’s Mary.

Yet Mary experienced serious Adversity.

Take a look at the timeline:

For Mary, as it is for many of you, adversity came in varied forms.  From irritation to anguish, she faced it all.  

One thing we don’t get much of an account of is her response to it all, other than in the very beginning, we know she received the promise with a willing heart and trust in God.  

One thing I’m pretty sure of, when Mary was experiencing adversity, when things were as bad as they could be, I’m hoping that she remembered the promise that God made her about her son.  I hope that Mary kept her eye on the Primary Concern.

Tip #6 For Mission Operatives: Expect To Be Tested

As we grow, we are tested and tried.  Sometimes it feels like we’re facing the same trials repeatedly.

We don’t love facing the same tests over and over. Still, we know God knows what He is doing.  I may not realize that I need the repetition, but He knows my heart.

Not every test that you re-take is about teaching you something. Sometimes God allows you to experience a trial so you can model a grace-filled response for someone else. Maybe for your children or a friend or a complete stranger.  Your response to adversity speaks volumes to the world about your faith and your belief in the mission.

Tip #7 For Mission Operatives: See The Blessing In The Battle

Maybe you don’t like the idea that you can be experiencing adversity, and it is God’s will for you to be right where you’re at.  

But consider the classic story: 

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared; he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.

Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could go no farther.

Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and tiny, shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It was never able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. 

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been - and we could never fly.

God is always at work in our lives.

Let’s close with this often-shared fictitious exchange from an unknown author…

Enjoy this sweet reminder that our God is fully aware of where you are today. 

He has gifted you and equipped you for the mission that He has called you to.  He offers you full armor for the battle, and He knows what you need every step of the way.  You can trust Him.

Grace and peace, 

Alicia