Every person, sooner or later, will face adversity; some more often than others. The difficulties we face have the power to develop our character, our strength, and our minds. Or they can totally defeat us.
A gemologist uses a grinding stone to make a diamond shine with radiance, but that same stone can reduce a solid rock to dust. In that same way the adversity we face can either grind us down or polish us, depending upon the material out of which we are made. Out of what kind of material are you made?
If what you are doing meets with no resistance, it is very likely not worth doing. Consider these facts: without the resistance of water, ships could not float. Without the resistance of air, planes could not fly. Without the resistance of gravity, humans would float out into space.
The difficulties we face in life have the power to either make us or break us – our attitude determines which it will be. Attitude overcomes adversity. Eddie Gilbert, a member of Temple Baptist Church in Wilmington where I worship every Sunday, is an outstanding example of this. In spite of the fact that he has been confined to a wheelchair for several decades, he is one of the most radiant Christians I know.
He experiences the debilitating effects of physical handicaps every single day that would grind the vast majority of all adults down to a nub. Everyone who meets him is immediately impressed by his contagious smile. He has been given the responsibility each Sunday of ringing the chimes to signal the beginning of morning worship. It is one thing he can do, and he does it with enthusiasm and joy.
Eddie lives on the block behind our church. A few years ago when he was a member of the church choir his battery-powered wheelchair could be seen coming across the street every Wednesday night on the way to choir practice. His dedication is proof that a pound of example is worth a ton of advice.
On a Wednesday night more than a decade ago, a driver did not see Eddie entering the street in time and bumped his wheelchair over, knocking him out of the chair and onto the street. Those who saw what had happened were alarmed and immediately wanted to call an ambulance to carry him to the hospital emergency room. He would not listen to the suggestion. “I can’t do that,” he said, “I’ve got to go to choir practice.” He pushed the lever forward on his wheelchair and headed toward the church.
Eddie is an inspiration to everybody who knows him. Some people grumble and complain and whine because they have a hangnail or a minor toothache, and I have known lots of people like this. They could learn a lot about dealing with adversity from Eddie’s dedication and grit.
Adversity is never pleasant to face, but it has the power to teach us valuable lessons that we cannot learn in any other way. While it makes some people better, it makes other people bitter. That is why those who face it with the wrong attitude are left ground down and defeated.
Consider these elementary facts: (1) A rubber band is effective only when it is stretched; (2) A turtle gets nowhere until it sticks its neck out; (3) A kite rises against the wind, not with the wind; (4) Sweet herbs give off their finest fragrance only when pressed; (5) Music would have no melody without the minor keys.
You do not have to let adversity defeat you. If you trust God, He will teach you how to “Do all things (even face adversity) without complaining” (Philippians 2:14).
The Paper Pulpit 
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