How do I Accept and Adjust in Adversity? Part One

Oct 29 2017 How do I Accept and Adjust in Adversity? Part One

To Accept or Not Accept

When my son, Noah, was a high school freshman, he broke his leg playing football. His tibia decimated and his spirit despondent. It was a rough go for all of us. This leg injury led to a chain of events that set him back academically, in his sports life, and emotionally. His dad and I spent many evenings ruminating: Why did the coach put him in at that position? For that play? Why had Noah gone one way instead of the other?  Why did I not realize how much pain he was in and give him medicine? Guilt and game rewind churned in our brains.

In time, we began to accept the situation and adjust to the hip-to-toe cast, the reality that it took six of us to get him ready for school in the morning, the catch-up schoolwork, and the fact that he’d miss a season of basketball.

Sometimes, life scenarios are challenging to accept. Sometimes, we are unable to relinquish our longings, wishing things had turned out differently. We replay circumstances and events repeatedly in our minds—almost obsessively. We often wonder why our situation or trial is what it is and how we could have done things differently to make the end game happier—happier for our loved ones or ourselves.

I believe the words in Psalm 103:19 may usher us to freedom in our acceptance struggle. This passage tells us God’s sovereignty rules over all. What does this mean to us? How do we wrap ourselves around this idea and apply it to our lives?

In the book,  As Silver Refined Kay Arthur says:

Everything that comes into your life as a child of God is filtered through His fingers of love. He loves you with a perfect love that desires your highest good. 

God is on His sovereign throne, loving us perfectly. This God of ours can be trusted. Trusting His sovereignty is the way to acceptance. In embracing and accepting God’s sovereignty, we begin to trust, which leads to peace.

The inability to believe in God’s sovereignty inhibits our path towards acceptance.

I have wrestled with this truth for a while. Until recently, I ruminated on circumstances in my recent past almost daily, driving me towards anxiety. After reading Psalm 103:19, I decided to camp on the sovereignty of God. I spent time in prayer, submitting my ongoing trial to Him. A process of freedom and acceptance began. As I continue on this path, I often catch myself going back over pictures and questions. I stop immediately and say, “Accept.”

A process of reconciliation took place in order for me to accept that what is is.

That what was, was.

You and I must reconcile our trials, pasts, circumstances, mistakes, and pain with the truth. The truth is that God loves us and is in control. The truth is that we will find peace by accepting what He has allowed in our lives because we know  He loves us and desires our highest good.

The result is a peace that surpasses all understanding. And the knowledge that He loves us beyond measure.

Dear Lord,

I accept your sovereignty.

I accept your love (in times of trial or days of ease).

I accept the plot of my life and yield it to You. What is, is. What was, was.

Thank you for establishing your throne in the heavens.

Amen