This may sound a little surprising to you, but adversity is more the result of your progress, not failures in life.

According to the better living book I call the Bible, a gentleman by the name of Paul says, "For a wide door of opportunity has opened to me, a great and promising one, and there are many adversaries." [I Corinthians 16:9 The Amplified Bible]

This verse reminds us that with every opportunity for promotion in life comes a season of adversity.

And yet I wonder how many of us have excused away opportunities to realize success because of the intimidation of adversity?

In a sense, we are like the Old Testament King who said to his officials, "Don't you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us and yet we are doing nothing to retake it..." (I Kings 22:3 NIV)

It's said that we will do one of four things when we're hit with adversity:

1 - Maximize it - Some will exaggerate the crisis.
2 - Minimize it - Others understate the crisis.
3 - Advertise it - Still others tell everyone about the crisis.
4 - Analyze it - The wise extracts useful information from it.

So how do you analyze adversity so that you may get the angle on it?!

When adversity hits, we must:

1 - Pursue Worthy Council

The better living Book says, "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." (Proverbs 11: 14)

Someone out there knows something you need to know ... something that can help you survive and even succeed in the most painful chapter of your life.

Be careful and don't risk your victory on the ignorance of another person whom is not qualified to speak into your life --ignorance can be deadly!

2 - Refuse to Feel Alone

Though you may be alone in the fight, refuse to give way to the isolation temptation.

You may feel like a target and your world may be crashing in all about you, but just remember the 23rd Psalm that every one of us have recited at one time or another.

It reads, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me."

Don't give in to self-pity, for pity parties postpone your victory!

3 - Focus on the Vision for your life

Your mind is like soil - it will grow any Seed you sow into it, good or bad.

The challenge is to get a hold of God's dream for your life for that's the big picture that really counts. Be consumed with that picture and let it continually fill your mind, heart and life. Make God's dream for you your reality!

Nothing is ever as it first appears; pain passes, adversity passes. So keep looking at what God is producing in you, because it is not what happens to you in life that matters, but what happens in you.

4- Decide to Fight Back

The enemy of adversity is counting on you becoming passive and timid, withdrawing and refusing the difficult assignment it presents. So don't give in and back down. This time, decide to fight back!

One writer puts it this way, "Choice, not chance, determines destiny."

Was it luck or coincidence that allowed you to enjoy success in the past? I don't believe there is such a thing as either. Your choices will determine 80 percent of what you do in life and 100 percent of your attitude towards it.

Today, make the decision to fight back against adversity that comes your way and avoid anyone who breaks your focus through strife and division.

5 - Keep the Spirit of a Finisher

Luke 9:62 "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Anyone can begin a marathon, but only Champions finish them!

Your dreams and goals are worth any fight, any waiting, any price, so don't give up!

The more you persevere, the more demoralized your enemy will become.

Patience is a weapon that you can hold in your hand, so just hang in there and commit to finishing ... commit to going the distance. Through your patience you are being perfected.

Yes, there are some things that can only come to your life through patience!

James 1:4 "But let patience have its perfect WORK, that you may be PERFECT and COMPLETE, lacking NOTHING!"

Now that you have the angle on adversity, I pray you'll have a better angle on your life.

Metro Life Worship Center, located at 4005 NW 79th Avenue, is "a Christian Church in Doral aspiring to enhance life through better living principles." They can be reached by phone at 305 592 5100.