Our thoughts and prayers are with all the people who are going to be impacted by the hurricane that’s going to hit the Carolinas. Thankfully, with the advancement of technology, people have received enough warning to take all the necessary precautions. Whether it means gathering up the needed supplies to ride out the storm in their home or making the choice to evacuate, the blessing of having advanced warning is absolutely priceless. However, with the exception of actual storms,  we don’t necessarily have the benefit of knowing a storm of adversity is coming before it actually hits, so what do we do when the “life storm” shows up, often unexpected, and leaves us in a position we never saw coming?

We are kicking off a new series this coming Sunday called “How To Get Through What You Are Going Through.” Getting through any storm will always require a greater focus on Jesus than on our adversity, so there’s no 5 step plan that ultimately clarifies the “how to” part. However, as we look at examples in the Bible, we can see how God has interacted with people throughout the generations.  As we do this, we’ll gain a better understanding of what is needed to endure, survive, and even thrive during a season of adversity, but with that understanding, we ultimately have to make a choice about how we will or won’t respond. God is always more interested in our character development than our comfort level, so He will use the storms of life to refine who we are, but will we receive the refinement that He is bringing to us?

I’ve listed six key characteristics below that we’ll be unpacking over the next several weeks regarding how God helps us through adversity and refines our character in the process. I’m praying God will help us all to better see our next steps in regards to these characteristics.

  • Faithful… Trusting in God when you can’t see what you want to see or think you need to see
  • Committed… When the odds are stacked against you, the detractors don’t stop you from seizing God’s promises
  • Focused… Keeping your eyes on your source of hope rather than forces working against you
  • Repentant…  Taking responsibility for the critical and sinful spirit that quenches the work of the Holy Spirit in your life
  • Obedient… Able to do what God’s called you to do even if you are the only one
  • Revived… Willing to fight for something you thought was over