What did they do in the face of adversity in ACTS?

Doesn’t it seem like life is just getting more and more difficult? There are more challenges, more division, more uncertainty, and it’s a lot harder to be optimistic about the future.

In ACTS the community of faith had things they always did, and one thing they never did. 

When they faced adversity the did the 4 main things they always did together – 1) they prayed (ACTS 12:5), 2) the worshipped (ACTS 16), 3) they stuck together and leaned on each other (ACTS 4:32), and   4) they looked in God’s word for direction and wisdom and then followed it (many people, but one example is Peter in Acts 2 & 4).

So, I ask myself – when I face adversity, do I do those things? Or how do I respond? This community gave us an amazing example to follow whenever we face adversity.

But there’s something they didn’t do.

They didn’t blame, doubt, let go of, or leave God. They believed in God’s presence, faithfulness, and calling no matter what they were facing. So often in life I encounter people who look at life and then judge God – like, if God is so good, why is this happening? But the community in ACTS helps us to reframe the question to something more like – God is always good, life isn’t, so how can I continue to respond faithfully in God’s strength empowered by His Holy Spirit in whatever situation(s) I’m facing?

Facing adversity isn’t a choice, it will happen, but how we face it is. Just like Stephen (ACTS 7) asked God to forgive people as they were stoning him to death, we see that adversity doesn’t just help us get closer to Jesus, but actually helps become more like Him as we go through it.

Pastor Steve