Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, April 22, 2024
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Adversity is inevitable. The more we try to avoid it, the more it creeps up on us in subtle ways. We might think we have absolutely everything together but can’t figure out why we’re still not happy. Or, without warning, something really challenging pops up. It might be in response to an action we took or didn’t take, or it might be completely random. The bottom line is that we don’t have to led adversity keep us from living the kind of flourishing life God desires for us.
The Thessalonians knew that, as did so many of the early Christians, who experienced persecution for their beliefs. In spite of the challenges, they had “joy inspired by the Holy Spirit” and that joy in the word became an example to others.
This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t let ourselves experience and honor the emotional difficulties that come with adversity. We’re not supposed to just “buck up, little camper!” That attitude can be damaging to mental health. But we can, with the Holy Spirit, walk through adversity in the knowledge that we are not alone—we are held—and perhaps, looking back, see how we have weathered our challenges as a gift to others in the sharing of it.
When has a serious challenge in my life become a source of strength and inspiration for others?
