There are two fundamental issues which make some degree of adversity inevitable for mankind in general, and believers in particular. Understanding why we encounter adversity will help us as we learn to live by faith.

Adversity is normal

    As a result of sin, all of creation is flawed. In spite of that reality, both Western culture and the Western Church are essentially hedonistic. They both expect life to be good and they search for an explanation when it isn't. The truth is just the opposite. We are sinful men and women and we live in a world that is corrupted by sin. Until creation's future redemption occurs as promised in Romans 8:20-21, our lives will always be subject to hardship. We should express social concern and a willingness to alleviate suffering. Nonetheless, adversity to one degree or another is common to mankind.

    While we are living in this world as believers, we must understand that adversity in our personal lives is not necessarily an indication of God's judgment. In a general sense, adversity is merely the context in which we live. God's sovereignty acts on our behalf within this context of our fallen world.

Adversity produces growth

    There is a specific purpose for adversity that both our Western culture and our Western Church also want to deny. History gives countless examples of people who have experienced substantial personal growth as a result of extreme hardship.

    This is even more true for the believer who wants to live by faith. James 1:2-5 says:

    Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

    In spite of all of the difficulty diabetes has caused in my life, I am deeply grateful to God for allowing me to live as a diabetic for 35 years. No other physical circumstance in my life has contributed more to my spiritual growth than my diabetes.

    My first lessons concerning the sovereignty of God, my recognition of my mortality and the need to think realistically about death, the need to define my personal position regarding reliance on medicine, my understanding of my responsibility to use time wisely because I may not have a normal life expectancy, and many lessons in faith have all resulted from living with this disease. By nature, I am an independent and self-reliant individual. I could dread what the future holds for me as my health continues to deteriorate. On the other hand, as I risk losing my eyesight, my driver's license, my overall health, and especially my income, I am also increasingly aware of Jesus' ability to sustain me. I understand that all of these health issues are His wonderful provision to my prayer for faith.

    I have asked intently for faith. Jesus has given me diabetes—and several other persistently difficult areas in my life—so that my faith may grow. Even from the perspective of this life, I am thankful for that growth. In the future, when I look back from the vantage point of Heaven, I will realize even more how wonderfully He planned my life so that I could learn to trust Him.

    I often marvel at the public prayers of Christians. Week after week in the adult Bible study class I attend, I hear prayer asking God's deliverance from impending hardships.

    I wonder how God must react when He carefully plans an event in a believer's life for the purpose of promoting growth in faith, only to hear the Sunday morning group asking Him to change His mind because this or that believer doesn't really want to learn that lesson. (The disturbing thing is that no one ever suggests that these trials are likely God's provision for growth.) Does God ever shake His head in dismay at what He hears us asking for?

    I don't want to imply that it is not appropriate to bring health needs or other areas of difficulty to Him in prayer. It most certainly is. But I think the emphasis of the request should be the growth of the one involved while also recognizing God's sovereignty in that believer's life.