“Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are, and not merely as we might like to be.”
~ Arthur Golden
Frank Viola | Beyond Evangelical
Official Blog of Author & Speaker Frank Viola. Digging below the surface and moving beyond the shallows in today's Christianity.
On Adversity
On Faith
so, so true. reminds me of another quote i’ve appreciated in my recent journey:
“I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me up against the Rock of Ages.” ~ C.H. Spurgeon
so as the strong wind of adversity tears it all away,
may it be not i who lives, but Christ who lives in me.
Dang! This is so true! In my experience it is especially true for community life. Hopefully all that remains after the winds come through is Christ as head and in His people. From my experience adversity can really strengthen a church. I know you have spoken about this a lot Frank. I appreciate that about you. You have always spoken honestly about the trials of a shared life together, but you still say that its also the most beautiful experience as well 😉
Wow, great quote. So much truth to this. While such adversities are typically not enjoyable, when The Lord has his way in our lives, we can look back on them and say in all sincerity, He is worth it and so much more!
The Impossible (highly recommend)…saw the movie last week with my 19 year-old daughter and the intensity and rawness of the 2004 Tsunami was recreated so well. I saw in an interview the mother of the family of five who told their story of survival in this movie and she said you think you know who you are…but you really don’t know who you are until you are stripped of everything. I don’t know the spiritual relationship with GOD that this family has, but she did go on to say that humans have a very deep resolve and can endure much more than they realize. I believe that is due to the desire for life GOD plants within all his creation physically…as humans,spiritually when we are in HIM he plants the same desire and endurance and gives us all the capability to stand against the winds of adversity because HE is standing within us…even when we physically go down for the count…our spirit, in Christ, who is in the Father stands eternally 🙂
I like this Robyn and I like that you added “even when we physically go down…”. It’s so true, God is there, never minding when we are too weak to be in the game. He takes charge, stands by us and miraculously pulls things together until we are able to get back up and participate once again. Can’t we tell story after story about His provision in adversity. What an awesome God!
And there is just one more reason I don’t like adversity! Jokes aside, self-exposure through trials does greatly improve my desire to reach out for grace with both hands at the expense of the dreaded self-righteousness. So not a bad thing in the end 🙂