Adversity and Opportunity Come Knocking Simultaneously

"When opportunity knocks..." We've heard all of the quotes related to when opportunity knocks. One I heard recently goes like this, "When opportunity knocks, you still have to answer the door." How true it is, but how often it seems that when opportunity knocks, it seems more like adversity than opportunity.

Take the example of the prostitute Rahab in the book of Joshua. She is living in Jericho just trying to get by in life and then gets a knock at the door and it turns out to be some spies from Israel. She probably thought is was the run-of-the-mill client, but instead she finds these spies are from Israel, whom she had heard much about the awesome power of their God. Is this opportunity or adversity? What would become of her, her town and family now that this awesome God is coming to destroy them just as He did the powerful Egyptians?

Rahab chooses to hide these spies, but then soon hears another knock on the door. This time the King of Jercho has sent a message to "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house..." Things seem to have gone from bad to worse. Was this knock at the door a knock of opportunity or adversity? Rahab could have given up the spies and been in favor with the King of Jericho, or kept them hidden and trust that the God of Israel might protect her.

Rahab chose the latter by faith and found herself protected and provided for by the God of Israel. And so it is with us. Many times, adverstity and opportunity come knocking on our door simultaneously. How do we know what to fear? How do we know which is adversity and which is opportunity? As we continue to trust God, no matter what life experiences come to our door, we can see them as opportunity. Opportunity to trust God more fully and to subsequently realize God's protection, provision and love for us.

What is knocking on your door right now? Do you see it as opportunity or adversity?

Is it a lost job? A health scare? Inability to have children? Financial vulnerability? Emotional instability? Perhaps with the onset of the holidays, your adversity is in the form of family coming knocking on your door. Whatever it is, choose to view it as an opportunity rather than the invasion of adversity. Choose to see it as an opportunity to trust in God and realize God's protection and provision, just as Rahab did. Choose to be thankful this holiday season for the things you once saw as adversity, but now embrace by faith as an opportunity.

Also, to keep perspective, enjoy this hilarious video that captures the stress of the holidays and our continual opportunities that come knocking.

Beams Away!