A Friend Named Adversity

Whoever will have nothing to do with thorns, can never gather roses.

The brook that flows over stones makes the sweetest music.

If you remove the rocks, the brook will lose its song.

Blessings thrive in afflictions' soil.

Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes.

The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter.

It isn't the load that weights you down, it's the way you carry it.

The darkest clouds often bring the heaviest showers of blessing.

Jesus is no security against life's storms, but he is perfect security in them.

Troubles are not sent to bother us but to better us.

If we had no trials, there would be no triumphs.

To get out of difficulty, we must go through it.

When it gets dark enough you can see the stars.

The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.

Trouble is to the triumphant spirit what turbulent water is to a sturdy boat.

Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them.

Adversity is the way the great surgeon gives us a face-lift.

God often digs wells of joy with the spade of sorrow and adversity.

Tears are often the means by which we see God's rainbow of promises.

When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade.

You will never be the person God wants you to be, if afflictions, trials, and disciplines are taken out of your life.

Afflictions are but the shadow of God's wings.

No trouble can come so near that God is not nearer.

Only God can change sunsets into sunrises.

Adversity may sometimes get a Christian down, but only on his knees.

Jesus spoke of Christianity as a banquet, but never as a picnic.

God's grace enables us to ‘face the music' even when we don't like the tune.

One reason that the school of Christ is so tough is that you get the test first and the lesson later.

Sufferings are to spiritual maturity as the chisel is to sculpture.

True achievers have made adversity their friend.

The very same adversity can make one bitter and another better. A thoughtful and prayerful study on how to face adversity can change one's world.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Heb. 12:2, 3, NIV)

“If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him.” (2 Tim. 2:12)

“And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me-- to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:7-10, NASB)
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"The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities": Sophocles