ADVERSITY REDIFINED

ADVERSITY REDIFINED

April 20, 1999 was just another day for me warming up to the norms of daily routine. All that changed, when  I read the front page of  just about every daily  that day, of the tragic shootings at the Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. This was treading new grounds and was the prelude of things to come.

http://history1900s.about.com/od/famouscrimesscandals/a/columbine.htm

What triggered such violence by two hate-filled students is still a mystery till this day, but it did redefine or shall I say CHANGE the meaning of the word normal for me, and I am sure for many others that fateful day.

Evil has a way of hanging a shroud of despair over any word in our lives, does it not? To some it may be the mention of someone’s name who has hurt them deeply, a place reminiscent of  past  failures, an experience or ordeal so terrifying, or a time when we were rejected.

Personally I can recollect with sadness, the moments when relationships are lowered to such depths of unimportance and is dismissed rather cheaply to the lowest echelon of priorities  in a meagre dispute or misunderstanding.

To think one would disown a child over lack of respect, or for some wrongdoing is unimaginable. Worse still if  for some reason our failure has caused the Almighty God to severe ties.

Thankfully, the dynamics of God’s love has the ability to redefine the most painful words, moments or experience.

Romans 12  provides that antidote for the poison of evil so prevalent in our hearts and the world around us:

“Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good” (v9).

“Repay  no one  evil for evil” (v17). “Do  not  avenge yourselves” (v19).

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;  if he is thirsty,  give him a drink” (v20). “Do not be  overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (v21).

The way I see it, everything in our lives that is underlined, challenged  or defined by evil is an opportunity to seek God’s power to overcome with good. The more the better, after all practice makes perfect.

Agree with me, its an OPPORTUNITY? How else would we be trained or equipped? Without this, no amount of  prayer, fasting, preaching or church activities;  guarantees us a life of  an overcomer.

There are  no  painful words, bad experiences, failures or ordeals that cannot be redefined by the everlasting goodness of the Almighty God, whom we are able to call ABBA Father. Dare we make Him a liar, should we challenge this?

Quote:  “THE ABUNDANCE OF HEAVEN’S  GRACE IS ALL WE NEED TO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SEEK OUR HARM,

TO FILL US SO WE CAN SHOWER THEM WITH LOVE IN WAYS THAT WILL BE UNDERSTOOD” jason t