adversity and blessings

I was sent this by a friend of mine because I shared with her a decision that was made this morning by a couple that knew Aaron. I don't believe they knew him well but I have gotten to know them since Aaron's passing. He came forward to proclaim Jesus as his Savior this morning during worship service and she did as well. When I went up to them to tell them how happy I was and that they made the best choice that they would ever make in their lives she said to me she was glad I was there and Thank you. I was confused! I told her not to thank me because I did nothing. The she said that Aaron's death started a work in them both. I know that the Lord uses every thing, even our adversity, for good (even though we might not see the good)to give Him the honor and praise through it all.

Here is the devotion that she sent....

Comforting Others
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2,
by Os Hillman03-09-2008

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (2 Cor 1:3-4).

I was 14 years old in September 1966. I was home watching I Dream of Jeannie on television when the program was interrupted by a news bulletin: "Three prominent local businessmen have died in a plane crash in the mountains of Tennessee." That's how I learned of the death of my father.

It was difficult and painful growing up without a father. I loved and needed my dad. I couldn't understand why God would take him away from me so suddenly. I certainly didn't see the death of my father as a "blessing" in any sense of the word. Yet I have seen blessings come out of that terrible tragedy. In the years since my father died, God has brought a number of men across my path that have lost fathers at an early age. Because of my own loss, I had an instant connection with others who suffered similar losses. We shared an experience that other people couldn't fully understand.

I went through a seven year period where I experienced major financial problems. I can't say that it was a blessing to go through those seven years of adversity, but God has used my trial to bring blessing to other people. It actually was a catalyst to move me into a whole new calling. When I meet someone who is going through a business failure or a financial loss, there's an instant bond between us of shared experience.

God can take our adversity—a heart attack, cancer, an automobile accident, violent crime, bankruptcy, a marriage crisis, the loss of a loved one—and transform that pain into encouragement for the people around us. We come out of those experiences stronger and better able to comfort others.

Although adversity may never be a blessing, God in His grace can bring blessing out of our adversity. The key is releasing the hurt and pain to the Lord so He can bring the needed healing to our lives. Why not give your circumstance to the Lord today and let Him use it in the lives of others. This will be the first step toward healing.


Samuel and I read this together and it seemed as if it calmed his spirit.(at least for the time being) We will never understand Why but I know that HE is using all of the adversities in our life to be blessings to others!

~always looking up~ Christina