Save Me from This Hour: How to Face Life’s Adversities & Come Out Stronger

By Ola Abina

This book ministers hope to anyone who has been hurt through what they brought on themselves by their own hands, through the actions of others or just because life happens. It is an excellent resource for anyone who has gone through adversities, is going through adversities and will go through adversities. It provides a dynamic blueprint on how to face even the most painful and difficult of life’s experiences and come out better and stronger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jul 3, 2015
• ISBN: 9781943612734

Book preview

PAINO

Introduction

As the Lord Jesus approached the season of a great adversity that He had never experienced before in His life, He uttered the following prayer to His Father knowing the gravity, intensity, and the toll it was going to take on Him. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour … (John 12:27 KJV). Continuing further, He repeated the prayer again in a different way three different times in the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew 26:39 recorded, My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me … (TLB). There are many lessons to learn from this encounter.

First, a time of great adversity is not a pleasant experience. It is so afflictive that an average individual would prefer not to go through it. Not only is it not pleasant, enjoyable or palatable, it is impossible to predict the end of an adversity unless by divine providence. Of course, there are many times when we think the adversity is coming to an end but instead it continues. As a matter of fact, a storm of adversity will last longer than we planned or prepared for.

Bear in mind that different rules apply in adversities. We pray more for an issue to resolve itself when the adversity is upon us. For instance, when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, it is perhaps the only place in the Scripture where He prayed the same prayer request more than once. Usually, He decreed what He wanted done and an answer immediately followed. However, in this encounter, Jesus prayed the same prayer three times, but the request was never granted.

Another point that can be gleaned from our Lord’s prayer in the garden is that adversity will not end until the appointed time. Sometimes in our ignorance, we think the answer is a more anointed or gifted minister, or perhaps the answer follows some quick, easy steps that have worked for others in regular situations. Unfortunately, we soon discover that these shortcuts or quick easy steps do not work. We then begin to question ourselves. Was it because of our multitude of sins that God had not forgiven us? Has He forgotten us?

Nonetheless, another indication of a time of great adversity is that it will likely strip us bare. Whatever level of support we have come to rely on or has worked for us in the past may not work. We are shaken to the core and it changes our theology. For example, if we are ministers, we could pray for others and those we pray for might get results but we as ministers may not. We sow a seed or give to God. If by any chance there is a reaping or harvest, it will not be commensurate to the seed sown.

One of the inspirations that gave rise to this book was my experience regarding my mother who was ill and finally went to be with the Lord. I was fortunate to live with my parents from birth until the age of nineteen before immigrating overseas. The seed they sowed in those few years still bears fruit to this day.

The second inspiration for this book was the financial adversities I went through over the last few years. I discuss some of the critical things the Lord has taught me specifically regarding how succeeding financially as a Christian is somewhat different from a non-Christian. I shared these experiences in my other book coming out soon titled, Tithed, Sowed, and Still Broke: How To Succeed Financially As A Christian.

In the meantime, whether you are experiencing an adversity or multiple adversities, this book will help you to understand them and come out stronger and better. If you have never experienced adversities, this book will prepare you, because adversity in life is a certainty.

CHAPTER 1

Great Adversity Triggers

As the journey progressed, a family—a husband, wife, and their three children was driving along the road when a metal piece fell off a truck in front of them, hitting the gas tank of their automobile, which burst into flames. Their three children were burned to death. The couple’s response? This was an event we had prepared for.

The above is not a fictional story. The year was 1996 in Great Lakes, Illinois. I am not sure of the exact month, but it must have been between July and September. I was in the US Navy at the time in my barracks. I was listening to the Christian station on my radio that I usually listened to when the program Focus on the Family with Dr. James Dobson came on. Dobson was playing the recording of a sermon given by a famous preacher. The preacher spoke about a Chris-tian couple who had been traveling with their three children on a highway. That story had stuck with me ever since. Even though I had shared it with many over the years, I never paid particular attention to the couple’s statement until I began writing this book. As a child of God, righteous saint, or whatever other holy prefixes or suffixes you may have, plan for a day of adversity that will surely come.

While I do not know what specifically evoked the great adversity in the lives of the couple that had lost their children, there are certain factors that trigger great adversities in an individual’s life. Adversities usually don’t just happen. In fact, nothing in life just happens.

Many factors can trigger great adversities in one’s life. Sin, ignorance, and poor decisions can provoke problems that become great adversities.

If you have a hidden, unconfessed, or unforgiven sin, then you can expect adversities in your life. Sometimes, the adversity may come as a result of the consequences of a forgiven sin. Specifically, while the sin is forgiven, we may be allowed to face the consequences. Take for example someone who has led a promiscuous life and contracted HIV in the process. If the individual comes to the foot of the Cross and confesses his or her sins, they will be forgiven. Yet, it does not necessarily mean that the HIV virus will not develop into full-blown AIDS, attacking the immune system and giving him or her sleepless nights.

To illustrate with a concrete example, a forgiven sin triggered great adversities for King David. You are probably familiar with David’s fa-mous sin with Bathsheba, whom he impregnated and whose husband he had murdered. Although God forgave him, as narrated by Nathan the prophet, these sins triggered adversities on multiple fronts for David. Surely, God allowed a rebellion to come from David’s household, even from his own son. David was chased out of the city he had built. His life was in grave danger, and the sword became a permanent fixture in his lineage (2 Sam 12:10).

Ignorance also initiates adversities. The Bible says in Hosea 4:6, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… Unfortunately, unawareness or lack of knowledge triggers adversity. This ignorance can be spiritual or physical. Certainly, Joseph the Dreamer comes to mind. He was naïve and ignorant of the plans of his brothers. Had he known, he probably would have handled his affairs with discretion and kept everything to himself, which would have avoided the suffering that supervened. This was exactly what Mary, the Mother of Jesus, did after an angel told her she would be carrying the Messiah. She kept everything in her heart (Luke 2:19).

Furthermore, poor decisions trigger problems that become adversities. I have discovered that it is possible for an individual to delay or push back God’s plans for their lives due to poor decisions. If this is not corrected, poor decisions can reach the point of truncating God’s dream for the person’s life.

Take, for example, a family that has been destined by God to be a financier of the Kingdom. The promises have been released. They faithfully render their dues to God, regularly attending services, etc. However, they