“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” – Proverb 24:10(KJV).
It is easy to encourage others and admonish them from the word of God when they face seasons of adversity. We do that easily with such passion and conviction, but when faced with similar situations, many counselors and motivational speakers are often found wanting, not being able to apply the same counsel they once dished out to others. For such situations, the reality of the saying comes to play: “Physician, heal yourself”. When a medical doctor who gives counsel to his patients to take their drugs regularly is now sick but refused to abide by such medical rules; when a nurse who tells the patient to endure injections that it is not that painful now cries and dreads injection, the common response is “physician, heal yourself”. This was the case of Job; he had given wise counsels in the past to people that faced calamities and afflictions. It was time for him to apply the same to himself. The counselor is now the one in need of counsel. The encourager is now the one in need of encouragement. Will he apply the same counsel he had given out to others or will he disappoint them.
Job had instructed many, and he has strengthened the weak. But now he is weak and in need of encouragement. His words had upheld those that were falling, will he fall or stand? He had strengthened the feeble knees, will he pray or complain? Now that he is in the centre of the trial, will he faint and be troubled or will he stand tall in faith and let the word build his faith? (Job 4:3-5).
This is the challenge every leader and every Christian will have to face each time adversity or affliction comes. While some merely confess faith, they do not apply such faith when it comes to action. Some merely confess the word but it is mere positive declaration, lacking the substance of faith that will enable clear and firm stand in the face of trials or challenges. The true test of our faith and conviction is not in what we tell others to do in their trying moments but in what we do when faced with such trials. It is not in our faith confession or positive declaration, but in our faith stand and actions. Having done all to stand, we should be found standing in practical terms. We should state our position and follow it up with a firm stand.
PRAYER: Oh God, strengthen me to stand in the day of adversity in Jesus name.
Rev. Vincent Diolu