Adversity is a word that I don’t use, or I haven’t used very much. I think it is somewhere outside of the familiar with me, something extreme that hasn’t often been my experience. It is used in the Bible, in the Old Testament anyway, and I wonder if, although the word isn’t a particularly a common one, the experience of adversity is.

“One who is righteous has many adversities, but the LORD rescues him from them all.” (Psalm 34:19)

Adversity is defined as a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty—a more familiar way to understand adversity is to identify it as “trials”, and we are very familiar with that word and the experience! …the one who is righteous has many trials, but the Lord is our deliverer.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:2)

Another word in line with adversity, is adverse—something or someone acting against or in a contrary direction…hostile. Sometimes, people we love will say or do something to us that has an adverse (antagonistic or harmful) effect. It hurts! …and it is our inclination to hurt back. It’s one thing when strangers or people we don’t know very well say or do something that hurts us, but when it is close to home, we (at least I do) tend to react more than when our emotions aren’t so involved.

Another word that runs along the same line and has a lot to do with adversity and adverse situations is “adversary”. We of course, know who the adversary is—and it isn’t a person who lives in our house, a divisive person on social media, or the person holding a differing political view; it isn’t anyone we can see, for that matter.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)

I cannot begin to list all the adversities and deceptive schemes the devil has in his portfolio to devour and destroy people—yet we know that is his goal. Jesus, in contrasting the life He offers those who call on His Name to the activity of the enemy, said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11) The thief comes for our destruction; the Shepherd came for our salvation.

The caution here (I’m talking to myself), is to make sure that we recognize who our adversary is. We need to consider our attitudes when we are drawn into conflict or controversy. When we feel the need to defend ourselves and our point of view. When we snap at someone for making a mistake or saying something wrong, or we don’t agree with what is said. …and when we let the little things, or not so important things people do or say, annoy us.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens….” (Ephesians 6:12)

I’m convinced that the enemy seeks to insert a wedge amongst friends and family members. Yet for the most part, people are much too important to us than to let whispers of division, animosity, and the feelings of being slighted cause rifts in our relationships. We’ve learned to respect and talk about the things that divide us. However, the enemy also seeks to cause division on a larger scale…

“Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.” (Romans 16-18)

It appears that the closer we get to meeting up with Jesus in the air, the harder the enemy is trying to divide us, causing offense and conflict, and destroying unity in the body of Christ. Not just between friends and family members, but also in churches, communities, and within nations.

Someone I respect and follow on social media recently called out some well-known pastors, condemning them and their ministry. Not so called “prosperity” teachers or the proponents of false doctrines, but Bible teachers she has a personal issue with. Calling them false teachers and insinuating that they are not saved. We need to be careful that the “righteous cause” we support or promote on one hand isn’t causing divisions within the body of Jesus on the other. “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4)

We each come to Jesus with our unique personalities. We are formed by God, knitted together in our mother’s womb— “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:13, 14) God didn’t use a cookie cutter, and we bring to Jesus our different life experiences and brokenness. We are naturally divided, yet the Holy Spirit brings us together in one body, the body of Christ. “Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

My desire is to be aware of adversity, acknowledge who inflames it, and avoid divisions amongst family and friends —and within the body of Christ.