Written by Pastor Gary J. Eberts ~ Heritage Of Faith Christian Center Arusha, Tanzania
Tuesday, 21 February 2006
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What
happens in your life when adversity shows up. Do you treat it as though
is were an anomaly that should not be a part of your life? Or do you
understand that it is a normal part of life that can be used to
accelerate your growth and develop strength of character in you. It can
even be the thing that brings you great success. Let me explain.
Preparation
is the thing that opens the door to opportunity in our lives. The
people who are mentally and spiritually prepared to handle the
"adversities of life." Will be the ones who are able to
capitalize on situations that many times will freeze others in fear and
inaction.
A mentor of mine, David Edwards, once said, "The
need of the hour is not always something new, but the need of the hour
is always, something true." I agree with that statement in many
ways, but I would add this. Many times for us to receive what is true
we need to have it presented to us in a "new way." For example. I
have found, as a pastor, that people get use to reading a particular
Scripture in a particular version to the point where they do not see
what is before their eyes. In essence they have become blind to the
truth. Just quoting it to them in a different version will open up
vistas of understanding they didn't have before.
If you
view adversity the same way each time, you become blind to what may be
right in front of you. I read somewhere the following, "Inside each
problem lies the seeds to success." The point I am trying to make is
this. If you will prepare yourself to look at life with new eyes by
renewing your mind daily (Romans 12:2) you will be ready to handle what
ever comes your way with greater effectiveness and clarity.
The first thing you have to do though is take action even when you feel
like you can't. Often we will fail to move on something for fear of
what other people might think about us. But we have to take
responsibility for our lives and move ahead. Many people are waiting
for a "Word from God." I believe God is waiting for us to move so He
can direct us. I learned many years ago while in the navy, you can't
steer a ship that is tied up to the docks.
The chief way
to move ahead is to, MOVE ahead. Now there are three components to this
process that makes it both workable and effective. It begins with a
decision then looks for possibilities and then takes action. This
decision, resourcefulness action matrix is one of the most effective
ways to deal with something you consider an adversity. There is a
specific reason it is set out the way it is.
First you
have to make a decision that instead of shrinking from or running from
adversity you are going to conquer it. This decision has to become part
of your self image. In other words you have to come to a place where
you see yourself as one who overcomes adversity, who conquers adversity
not one who runs from it or is defeated by it.
Now, just
having that self image will not guarantee success. But, if you do not
have that estimation about who you, are most likely you will respond to
adversity in fear and run from it or at the least try to hide from it.
But even before you can have this kind of self image about who you are,
you will have to deal with a very common fear that almost everyone has
to deal with at some time and some level. That is the fear of making
mistakes. Sometimes called “The Fear Of Failure.” The person who
consistently overcomes challenges and adversity is the person who is
not afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are often characterized by us as
“failure.” Instead of calling this a failure it is more
empowering for us to refer to these things as results we don’t like.
Everyone gets some kind of result. The ones we don’t like simply
require that we change so we can get new results.
To begin
the process of defeating the fear of making mistakes you need to do two
things. One, understand that making mistakes is the process we use to
learn what works and what doesn’t. You must realize that you will make
mistakes when you take action. You will also make mistakes when you
don’t take action. So you might as well make mistakes as you move ahead
towards your desired outcome or goal. Two, refuse to play the “What If”
game with yourself. Asking to many what if questions leads to paralysis
by analysis.
It is far more productive to take “Bold
Action” in a given situation because this will open up the boundaries
of what you believe is possible. You begin to see new ideas, concepts
and possibilities as you move ahead.
Once you have
gotten to the place where you are comfortable with the knowledge that
mistakes are ok, and you have decided to approach adverse circumstances
differently, you then need to look at the steps you will have to take
to master adversity. There are four of them.
1. Have a sense of urgency, a “Do It Now” mentality.
2. Ask yourself the question, “If I could what would I do?”
3. Give attention to the details. It is often the little things done consistently that make the difference.
4. Make sure you execute to completion. Finish the race, it is the only way to win it.
These four steps I’ve outlined above will enable you to do more and
accomplish exceptional things with your life and ministry.
GO FOR IT! |
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