Purpose in adversity? You can’t be serious. Yes, I am serious. I don’t like adversity any more than you do, but it is a part of life on earth and can serve a purpose.

You live in a fallen world with fallen people. No matter how hard you work to get along with others, you know people who have hurt you, who are jealous of you, or who thrive on chaos.

If you have an alcoholic in the family, you will experience pain, chaos, and maybe even hopelessness.

Perhaps you work for an insecure boss, who tears you and the other employees down to boost his ego and prove that he’s in charge.

Maybe you are married to an insecure person, who uses verbal, emotional, or physical abuse to tear you down to build himself up.

As you or a loved one struggle with a life-threatening illness, you may wonder what purpose in adversity could exist.

All of the above are examples of adversity, but purpose in adversity? If you allow God to use those situations for good, he will.

Look at Daniel 6 in the Bible. King Darius appointed 120 satraps to rule throughout his kingdom. He had three administrators over them. Daniel was one of them.

Verse 3 says, “Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”

The others were jealous of Daniel and tried to find fault in him. They couldn’t. However, they knew if it had something to do with “the law of his God,” they could.

Therefore, they talked King Darius into issuing an edict that anyone who prayed to any god or human being during the next thirty days except to the king should be thrown into the lions’ den (verses 6–8).

As usual, Daniel went to his upstairs room, knelt, and prayed to God three times a day. His enemies could hardly wait to report him to King Darius.

Although the king tried to save Daniel, he couldn’t find a way because of his edict. He had Daniel thrown into the lions’ den. Talk about adversity.

The next morning, King Darius rushed near to the lions’ den. In verse 20 he asked, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered in verses 21–22, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

The king was overjoyed, had Daniel released from the lions’ den, and ordered that Daniel’s false accusers, their wives, and children be thrown in the lion’s den. The lions crushed them immediately.

Purpose in adversity became clear in verse 26 when King Darius said, “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. ‘For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.’”

How will you handle unfavorable situations, so that you can find purpose in adversity?

Daniel 6:27: “He [God] rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Prayer: Dear God, rescue me from the power of the enemy of my soul and help me find purpose in adversity as Daniel did. Amen.

Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega I.XXII.MMXVIII