HANG OUT WITH ADVERSITY
[5-minute read]
Anyone who has experienced intense despair from facing a series of difficulties is well-acquainted with adversities. We are not talking about adverse outcomes, short-term inconveniences, or momentary disappointments because not every setback is a storm. An adversity is a hardship that challenges our ability to remain resilient without losing hope. Jesus, quite frankly said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Several biblical characters - including Joseph, Moses, Ruth, David, Esther, Job, Daniel and the apostle Paul - had gone through existential disruptions and extreme hardships. Knowing their unique challenges, response and faith in God helps us navigate our own crises because none of them sought to sidestep their realities. Instead, each remained steadfast in riding through their stormy situations and hanging onto their faith in God. (It is important to read their entire stories to avoid misunderstanding the context).
The Chinese words 危机(wéi jī) is often misquoted to mean opportunities in any crisis or danger. In actual fact, it describes a crucial turning point (good or bad) in any situation. So, in the face of any adversity, we can find the right biblical response and pivot in three rewarding ways:
1. LIVE LIFE WITH A GREATER PURPOSE
When we feel overwhelmed, it is easy to forget that we exist for a greater purpose than just surviving hardships. The apostle Paul admitted, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Even when all we see each day and all we feel each moment are the challenges in front of us, God’s Presence and His Promises are equally powerful and constant realities in our situations.
This is a truth that is not intended to comfort but anchor us in Christ as we face headwinds in life. Being anchored protects us from being swept away and overcome by the currents of adversities in the same way that anchors stabilize ships during turbulent weather conditions.
Here, the idea of ‘危机’ (wéi jī) or pivoting is about asking God to help us see our circumstances from His perspective rather than our own. As Christians, we must avoid glorifying our adversities, or grandstanding our endurance without paying attention to what God wants to show us through them. Could our circumstances be telling us truths that we have been avoiding due to a fear of change or conflict?
Consider this: Jesus’ disciples asked if a certain man had been born blind because of his personal sin or his parents’ sin. The Lord replied, “Neither …but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:1-3). Christians often make ambiguous statements like ‘adversities happen so that God will be glorified’. In plain English, what it means is that difficult circumstances cannot stop God from revealing to us His character, power and goodness. Therefore, we must pivot from self-reliance to God dependence even when it is not easy to do so.
Paul modelled a dependence on God that was quite remarkable. ‘My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.’ (Galatians 2:20). His obedience to God stabilized him and helped him to ride out all kinds of adversities. Throughout his ministry, Paul was open about his suffering. “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12).
2. SEIZE MOMENTS TO SHARE CHRIST
King David habitually opened his heart and penned soul-searching verses found in the Book of Psalms. “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17-18). His writings were not motivational fist-pumping rhetorics but relatable bare truths about the limitations of humanity and the power of God’s divinity.
Being willing to be open and vulnerable deepens our connections with each other. Paul laboured to explain the adversities he had to go through to guard an indefatigable passion to share Christ. His faith was not in his ability to endure adversities, but in God whom he trusted. His stories were replete with real victories and villains.
“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (Acts 20:24). Whatever hardships he encountered, Paul was unstoppable – even when he was under house arrest for two years. “He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ – with all boldness and without hindrance!”(Acts 28:30-31).
What shapes your faith biography today? Is it a collection of carefully curated mini testimonies, or a continuous story of real life struggles and hard-won battles with Christ?
3. TREASURE FAMILY & FRIENDS
Maintaining healthy ties with our families and friends goes beyond meeting obligations. True friendships require mutual presence and commitment. The Bible tells us, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17). We don’t show up for friends like crossing off a checklist of obligations. And even though families can have difficult relations, we can still show biblical love through prayer, forgiveness and grace.
How prepared are you to deal with adversity, or support someone going through theirs?
This is a summary and reflection based on a virtual BIR Session held on 22 August 2026.
