Very often we face circumstances that appear to be less than perfect and we are subjected to inconveniences in our lives. Our first instinct is to react negatively and begin self-examination to find out what we have done wrong to occasion such adversity or trials.

The scriptures make it clear that adversity is a fact of life.

1. "I, James, am a slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered to Kingdom Come: Hello! Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (James 1:1-4 MSG)

Notice that the text above says "when" and not "if" tests and challenges come at you from every side. There is however no reason to despair, as we are promised that we will always overcome.

1. "Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and He revealing through us the odor of the knowledge of Him in every place." (2 Corinthians 2:14 MKJV)

2. "So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?" (Romans 8:31 MSG)

3. "Children, you belong to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God's Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world." (1 John 4:4 CEV)

4. "Good people suffer many troubles, but the LORD saves them from them all;" (Psalms 34:19 GNB)

We are to never question God's love for us regardless of what we go through. Whatever the situation, the one thing we can always rely on, is His unfailing love to see us through.

1. "Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing--nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable--absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (Romans 8:35-39 MSG)

God is always a step ahead of every situation we face and has already made a way for us to overcome. It is not His will that we be crushed, but rather built up as things work out for our good.

1. "We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 GNB)

2. "No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it." (1 Corinthians 10:13 MSG)

3. "…in whom also we have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will," (Ephesians 1:11 MKJV)

The very essence of this series is to show you how God's people through the scriptures have always faced adversity and with the benefit of our hindsight, we see that rather than the enemy destroying God's people, God has always had the last laugh. After all He is the all powerful, all knowing God!!

1. "Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples? Earth-leaders push for position, Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks, The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers: "Let's get free of God! Cast loose from Messiah!" Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing. At first he's amused at their presumption; Then he gets good and angry. Furiously, he shuts them up: "Don't you know there's a King in Zion? A coronation banquet Is spread for him on the holy summit." Let me tell you what GOD said next. He said, "You're my son, And today is your birthday. What do you want? Name it: Nations as a present? continents as a prize? You can command them all to dance for you, Or throw them out with tomorrow's trash." So, rebel-kings, use your heads; Upstart-judges, learn your lesson: Worship GOD in adoring embrace, Celebrate in trembling awe. " (Psalms 2:1-11 MSG)

2. "You will laugh at violence and hunger and not be afraid of wild animals." (Job 5:22 GNB)

3. "The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming." (Psalms 37:12-13 KJV)

Now for a bit of Divine comedy

I bet you never knew God has a sense of humour

In His book lies the evidence

Some great scripts for "You have been framed"

He gains great delight in catching out Satan

Then He sits on His throne and laughs

What else would He do?

When the one He created

Keeps thinking He can outsmart His creator

And no matter how many times God proved Him wrong

He just keeps coming back for more of the same

He must be a sucker for being laughed at

Do I hear you say?

"Is he reading the same Bible as me?"

"Yes" is my bold reply

Now pay attention, as I will begin to unfold

The trail of laughs that God has put in His book

I guess He must want us all to laugh with Him

My prayer is that as we catalogue many of the occasions where God has had a laugh at the devil's expense, we will begin to see that He is doing the same in our situation and start to anticipate the predictable ending by laughing in advance with Him. Maybe we could then begin to understand brother James when he boldly suggests that we should "count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations" (James 1:2 MKJV).

To be continued..

Every Blessing

Breadoflife