What if from now on you can keep a positive attitude when you face adversity?
Adversity is defined as a hardship or a misfortune. By the definition, it already seems like a bad thing, but what if it didn’t have to be?
What if adversity was actually working for you instead of against you?
This post will be all about how to keep a positive attitude when you face adversity.
Are you ready? Let’s geaux!
What Does Facing Adversity Mean
Hebrews 10:38 NIV-But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.
Every adversity you face has a purpose. And whether you’re in God or not, you’ll have to face them.
Facing adversity means that you have a resolve that says “No matter what happens, I’m standing with the God who is over every adversity”.
It means that you won’t shrink or back down when things get tough.
The Bible says “Count it all joy whenever you face trials of various kinds for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4 ESV).
For believers, adversities are a good thing! Maybe even the best things for us.
Facing adversity is an opportunity to trust God. I’m not gonna lie. It could feel like a trust fall and you aren’t always sure if you’ll be caught. What if this is your opportunity to trust fall into His loving arms? If you’re ready, click the image below to get your Everyday Trust Fall Mini Bundle. This bundle includes a twenty one day Bible reading plan, a letter from Jesus devotional, and much more! Click the image down below to get yours!
3 Examples Of Facing Adversity
There are many adversities that you’ve faced that you probably never thought about.
Here are some examples of adversities you may have faced:
1. Physical Adversity Examples
- Car Accidents
- Giving Birth
- Physical disabilities
- Surviving Natural disasters
- Dealing With Addictions
- Homelessness
- Language Barriers
- Losing A Loved One
- Learning To Manage Money
{RELATED POST: How To Stop Self-Sabotaging}
2. Mental Adversity Examples
- Mental Illness
- Burnout
- Heartbreak
- Loneliness
- Depression
- Fear
{RELATED POST: 11 Must-Have Items To Help With Depression}
3. Spiritual Adversity Examples
- Warfare
- Difficulty Praying
- Losing Faith
- Dealing With Doubt
How To Keep A Positive Attitude When You Face Adversity
1. Practice Responding Not Reacting
Colossians 4:6 NIV-Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
When you respond to something, you take the time to access all the factors in your situation without allowing your emotions to lead you.
A response is considerate of both you and others who may be involved in your situation.
It’s acknowledging that this matter is not all about you, although it directly involves you.
When responding, you typically don’t go with the first thought that comes to mind. You take the time to think through the many thoughts along with what’s happening around you.
Many of us don’t respond, we react! Reacting comes from a place of defense.
Reactions are generally based on feelings and as you know feelings change with the quickness! A reaction is also an impulsive response that usually ends in regret.
Reflection Question: In the past two weeks, have you been responding or reacting more?
{RELATED POST: How To Deal With Emotions In A Healthy Way}
2. Focus On The Positive
Romans 5:3-5 NIV-Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
In the midst of adversity, it’s easy to see all the negative things that transpires. But what about the positives?
Where is your focus when you’re facing adversity? Is it on the adversity, on God, or on yourself?
There are millions of things that may be going right in your life, but yet you choose to see only the negatives.
Bestie, challenge yourself to start to see the positives because whatever you focus on will grow.
Start by asking yourself two questions:
- What did God say about your situation?
- Are you standing on any truths in His Word?
Adversity is not supposed to be looked at as a foe, but as your friend. It isn’t sent to break you down, but to build you up.
It’s up to you to get the proper perspective of it.
Next time you face adversity, try to identify one thing that’s positive. Even if the one thing is as small as “I am able to buy a piece of gum”.
This small thing still counts as a positive. You’ll be surprised at how many positive things you can come up with once you start to name them.
Reflection Question: Can you identify one positive thing in the midst of your current adversity?
3. Glean From God
John 13:14-15 ESV-If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
I absolutely love the word glean! Glean means to extract. When you’re in a relationship with someone, you naturally glean from them.
Think about it: Their mannerisms rub off on you. There are moments when you’re paying close attention and learning from them.
You might even start to walk like them! Gleaning happens in literally every relationship.
Your entire life should be focused on gleaning from Jesus. He is your example of how to live this life in righteousness.
Reflection Question: Did you stop to ask God about what He is trying to teach you through this adversity? Take the time to do this because He wants to show you how to overcome it.
{RELATED POST: 15 Powerful Tips To Boost Confidence Daily}
4. Remember You’re Doing The Best You Can
Angela Watson-Perfection is impossible; just strive to do your best.
Every adversity is different. They are kind of like make-up tests. Have you ever had to take a make-up test in school?
I remember preparing for my make-up tests just to find out that they were almost always full of short answer questions!
The teacher would even warn us sometimes that these test would be harder than the original.
But that still didn’t make it impossible to pass.
Just because you prepare for one version of a test doesn’t mean that you aren’t prepared for the alternative.
The tests may be different, in style, but the material used to prepare you will be useful even when you are caught off guard.
In the trials you face, just do the best you can like you would do on a test in school. The little effort you give is more than enough.
Never panic because even in this you’re learning and growing alongside your Lord and Savior.
Plus, you have access to the Teacher at all times.
Reflection Question: Is there any correlations between the trials you have faced? What are the similarities and differences?
5. Remind Yourself That This Isn’t Happening To You; This Is Happening For You
Romans 8:28 NIV-And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Nothing that happens in this world is ever happening to you. Think about some of the situations you’ve been through that you thought that you’d never make it out of.
Every one of those situations were stepping stones to get you to where you are now. They were outside of your comfort zone, but they were necessary for your growth.
You are stronger because of those situations. Better yet, because God grew you through those situations!
Reflection Question: What is a situation that you grew from that you once thought you’d never get out of?
6. Go Over God’s Reputation
Hebrews 13:8 NLT-Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
From the start to the end of the Bible, you can see God partnering with humanity. Your Bestie Forever has always been good, but the question is what do you believe about Him?
Begin to think about what God has done for you personally.
If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus and would like one Romans 10:9 says that all you have to do is confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and you can be saved!
Say This Prayer Aloud: Lord Jesus, thank you for saving me. I believe you lived, died, and rose again just for me. Today I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I’m in need of a Lord and Savior. I invite you into my life now as that and my Bestie Forever. In your name Jesus I pray. Amen.
Congrats Bestie. You now get to live this life with the Advantage. You will still have moments when you’re facing adversity, but you no longer have to do it alone.
Reflection Question: What is something that has God done for you personally?
{RELATED POST: 10 Reasons To Trust God}
7. Find Humor In The Midst Of Adversity
Psalm 126:2 ESV-Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
The truth is you deserve to laugh even in adversity. Looking back on old situations, I bet you could find so much humor in them.
Something I used to do in the midst of adversity is watch stand up comedy and go down memory lane. I also used to think back on how I reacted and the different variations of my voice as I spoke about my frustrations.
There is always a little humor in everything even if it’s just someone’s facial expressions or even how you reacted!
Sometimes a little laughter is all you need to keep a positive attitude in the face of adversity.
Reflection Question: If you’re going through an adversity now, what is something that is kind of funny about it?
Keeping a positive attitude when facing adversity doesn’t have to be hard. It just takes a little practice. Next time you find yourself in the face of adversity, give these seven tips a try.
This post was all about how to keep a positive attitude when you face adversity .
If You Enjoyed This Post, You’ll Love These:
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Forgiving Yourself: 5 Steps To Forgive Yourself God’s Way
Before You Go…
A quick recap of facing adversity with a positive attitude:
- Practice responding rather than reacting
- Focus on the positive
- Glean from God
- Remember you’re doing the best you can
- Remind yourself that this isn’t happening to you; it’s happening for you
- Go over God’s reputation
- Find humor in the midst of the adversity
Which tip do you need to practice the most? For me, it is focusing on the positive. It’s so easy to allow the adversity to overtake you. Comment down below the tip you need to practice the most.
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Always remember that you’re destined to win because He got up!
-Devyn Janae
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