What the Bible Says About Adversity

Troubles come with a multitude of names—accidents, afflictions, bereavement, calami-ties, difficulties, disappointments, disasters, failures, hard times, hurts, miseries, misfortunes, reversals, ruin, sufferings, tragedies, trials, tribulations, troubles, or woes. They can come unexpectedly or after repeated warnings. Adversities may be temporarily discomforting or permanently disabling, even life-threatening or life-taking. Some adversities merely take more effort to work through, while others permanently wound. Adversity literally means “something acting against you.” Nowhere is this concept more clearly presented than in the Bible, which makes it clear that God himself sometimes sends adversity either as a punishment for sin or simply as a way to test and strengthen our character. Other times Satan sends adversity to tempt us to sin. And God allows it. And sometimes we bring adversity on ourselves by acting foolishly or sinfully. And finally, there is the adversity that comes out of nowhere through no fault of our own. The one thing you can count on about adversity is that it will come. We all will have troubles, so it is not a matter of will we or won’t we—the issue is what we will do with adversity when it comes.

Does God actually send adversity into my life? Don’t troubles just happen?

DEUTERONOMY 28:20 | “The Lord himself will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration . . . for doing evil and abandoning me.”
JEREMIAH 21:14 | “I myself will punish you for your sinfulness, says the Lord.”
HOSEA 4:9 | “So now I will punish both priests and people for their wicked deeds.” Troubles do often “just happen” because we live in a sinful world, and God usually allows the cycle of sin to play itself out (for now). But just as a loving parent brings adversity into the life of a child through discipline, God may also bring adversity into our lives to correct us when we do wrong. This is for our benefit, not harm. God may also bring difficulties into our lives to strengthen and prepare us for life ahead.
LAMENTATIONS 3:33 | He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.
ROMANS 5:8 | But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

God does not enjoy sending adversity into your life. His love for us is pure and intense; he does not want to see us suffer! But our suffering would be worse if he did not sometimes correct us.

Is there any way I can avoid trouble and adversity?

JAMES 1:2-3 | When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:8 | We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed.

Avoiding adversity may not be best for you. Though it may bruise you, adversity builds you up and strengthens your faith.

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EXODUS 5:6-8 | Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers . . . : “Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves! . . . They are lazy. That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.’ ”
1 PETER 2:21 | God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example.

Being faithful to God may actually bring adversity. Satan is our enemy, and he will try to stop us from following God. There are also people who oppose what is good and right. Adversity may be a sign that you are being faithful to God.

PROVERBS 13:21 | Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous.
GALATIANS 6:8 | Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

Avoiding sin helps you avoid a great deal of adversity.

What causes adversity in my life?

ECCLESIASTES 2:22-23 | So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief.

Trouble is an inevitable by-product of fallen human life.

EZEKIEL 22:14 | “How strong and courageous will you be in my day of reckoning?”
PROVERBS 12:13 | The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble.

Trouble is often the result of our own poor decisions and sin.

JONAH 1:3-4 | But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. . . . He found a ship leaving for Tarshish. . . . But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea.

We can expect to find ourselves in deep trouble if we insist on running away from God.

PSALM 62:3-4 | So many enemies against one man—all of them trying to kill me. . . . They delight in telling lies about me.

Trouble is sometimes undeserved or caused by others.

Are there other benefits to adversity?

2 CHRONICLES 33:12 | But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself.

Adversity can humble us and lead us to God.

1 PETER 4:12-13 | Don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through. . . . for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering.

Adversity helps us understand Christ better because he suffered for us. This deepens our relationship with him.

Is God listening when I cry out because of my troubles? Does He really hear and does He care?

JONAH 2:2 | “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!”

God’s hotline is always open. Your call will never be rejected. God is never too busy with anything—even managing the world—to listen. He has both a listening ear and a caring heart.

Promises from God

PSALM 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
PSALM 9:12 | He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.
MATTHEW 11:28 | “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
1 PETER 5:7 | Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

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