We as people have endured through such tragedies as hurricanes, drought, floods and disease and have managed to find the determination and motivation to overcome these tremendous obstacles. I have learned that when you face adversity you must accept it with dignity and when you receive prosperity you must take it with humility. Unfortunately, as our prosperity increases and the adversity we face fades away, so does our humility. We may have negative feelings towards the adversity we face in our lives but it is usually during these times that we become truly acquainted with the person we are and with God. When adversity confronts us and leaves us fighting for everything we hold important to us, our true strength of character and heart is revealed. As a result, when your life is prosperous it is easy to disconnect with God but when things start going wrong it becomes easy to reconnect with God.
The United States is a mighty super-power in the world that is now facing the adversity of economic trouble as the war in Iraq continues to drag on and financial institutions at home are nearing bankruptcy. The people of the United States are seeking out God more than ever to provide comfort and guidance because it is in our darkest times that we find clarity and reconnect with God. Senators John McCain and Barack Obama are both relying heavily on the “religious vote” in the upcoming presidential election because of the ever expanding influence of God in America today. It is God’s plan for us to experience adversity through trials, disappointments, sadness, sickness, and heartache but with the help of the Lord it can lead to spiritual growth, success and progress. On the other hand, people that are prosperous or powerful often feel secure against facing the consequences of their own actions and steer far away from God as they lose the humility they once had. The blessing of prosperity is abused by arrogance as people begin to forget about God and their hearts and souls become numb. The lack of humility can blind people to their own faults so that they never feel the need to correct their hearts and be thankful to God for what they have. True humility can be found in the appreciation of God while being thankful for the prosperity in your life. There is nothing wrong with having a desire to be prosperous but you must avoid the traps of desire, ego, and personal ambition in order to truly appreciate the success in your life.
We all go through times of struggle in our lives that can seem overwhelming, but if you use this time to build your confidence and self-esteem by overcoming these obstacles, you will find a way to reconnect with God and find peace within yourself. Instead of worrying about what you don’t have in life, recognize the gifts in your life that you have taken for granted. Most of all take it easy on yourself, everyone has problems that they deal with on a daily basis and you won’t make things better by dwelling on these problems and letting them dishearten you. If you keep a positive frame of mind, God will give you the positive results you seek to the problems in your life.
By: Mahmud Hussein