Lori McCarthy

Last night I was listening to a video online that was discussing various techniques on how to overcome adversity.  This morning then when I woke up and read a daily devotional it also had to do with overcoming adversity.  Of course, everyone experiences adversity in this life. Either you are coming out of adversity or you are getting ready to experience adversity.  But why is it that some people seem to be able to sail right through adversity while others tend to be completely derailed by it?

The common theme among both the video and the daily devotion appeared to be this:  In order to overcome adversity, you have to change your perspective of it.

In other words, you have to change your perspective of it from being something negative into being something positive.  Instead of thinking of it as being a setback, think of it as an opportunity.  Now perhaps that adversity gives you an opportunity to learn something new.  Maybe it just so happens to present you with an opportunity to grow.  Instead of dwelling on the negative, try thinking about how this particular adversity might add some value to your life, your business, your ministry, your relationships, etc.  First, you must decide that you are going to embrace the adversity.  And second, you must choose to see adversity as something that’s going to make you stronger as a person.

Finally, you must choose how you’re going to respond.  In other words, you must decide who you want to become as you rise to the challenge that that particular adversity presents in your life.  You must face it head on.  Then you must choose what kind of person you want to be by allowing that challenge to mold you into a better person.

For example, let’s just say that you lost your job.  Now it may have been your fault that you lost that job or it may not have been your fault.  But because you lost that job, you now have a choice to make.  You can cause that loss of job to make you bitter or make you better.  The choice is yours.   You can choose to wallow in your self-pity as you stand in the unemployment line, or you can decide you’re going to make a change for the better.  Perhaps you tell yourself there is a better job out there for you.  Perhaps you realize that this is the opportune time for you to finally start your own business that you’ve always been wanting to start.  I’m not saying that it’s going to be easy, because chances are it won’t be easy.  In fact, there will be obstacles.  Things that are worthwhile doing generally never come easy.  However, if you change your perspective, you may just find out that you are a lot stronger than you think.  Suddenly your perspective has changed and you start to see the adversity in your life as something that you can get some value out of.  If it was your fault that you lost that job, you can choose to learn from your mistakes.  If it wasn’t, you can pray to God and trust that He will vindicate you in this matter.  Instead of becoming angry, you can choose to maintain a positive attitude and as a result you may land an even better job with better pay and benefits!  You learn that your trust should not be in your job or in an employer, but rather in God.

The same thing holds true if you are in a relationship, and then suddenly you lose that relationship.  Rather than becoming angry and blaming that person or blaming God, you can choose to look at it from another perspective.  Perhaps that person wasn’t the one you were meant to marry.  Perhaps you will find that perfect spouse that will be faithful to you forever, and you will never be cheated on again.  If you were abused, perhaps you will be sure to notice any redflags beforehand so you don’t go running into an abusive relationship again. You’ll know the signs of a narcissist. If your loved one passed away, you can realize that that person taught you some valuable lessons on love.  Perhaps you will decide not to take your other loved ones for granted from now on.

Now I am not saying that there won’t be negative emotions that you’ll have to deal with.  There will be painful emotions that you will need to process in order to heal and move on.  Eventually you have to decide that you aren’t going to park there and wallow in self-pity either.  Maybe it was even your fault, or at least partly your fault that the relationship didn’t work out.  Again, you must think of it as an opportunity for growth, knowing that the next time you will know better.  You will do better.  You will try harder to keep it together.  Sometimes it’s not your choice, it’s their choice, so you have to let them go and you end up heartbroken. Well, then you have to ask yourself.  Was it worth the risk to love?  Would you risk a broken heart to love again?  Then you must trust in the Lord to heal your broken heart.

Let’s say that the doctor just informed you you have a terminal illness.  Of course, you’re scared at first.  But then you dig down a little deeper knowing that God is your Healer.  So you pray to God and decide to take Him at his Word, trusting that He will heal you.  Whether or not you live or you die, you decide that you’re going to be an inspiration to others.  So you keep on believing that not matter what happens, God is with you.  No matter what, He’s got your back.  So whether you live or you die, suddenly you’re at peace about it.  If you die, perhaps it’s just your time.  What’s the worst thing that can happen?  If you’re in Christ, you will be going home to be with the Lord in heaven.

In conclusion, whenever you’re faced with adversity, the best way to overcome it is to embrace it, change your perspective of it,  and decide how you’re going to allow it to make you stronger.  That way you are rising to the challenge instead of allowing it to defeat you.