Adversity and Prosperity

There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire,
which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity; but which
kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.

-Washington Irving

I came across the above quote at this blog. The woman behind this blog has definitely seen her share of adversity but chooses to reveal the prosperity she finds as well. Please visit her blog if you get the chance.

This quote provided much encouragement and fear at the same time. While I know that God can do the impossible in impossible situations, the fear of having to go through adversity to light the flame with in is a little unsettling. As I pondered this quote I knew that there had to be some bible verses that provided the inspiration. Here are a few scriptures that I came across:

1 Peter 1:6-7 ...though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by the fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus is revealed.

Ecclesiastes 7:14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.

Job 1:21 The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.

Lastly I found this quote by Anne Bradstreet: If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcomed.

So if you be in adversity or prosperity right now may we always know that God is in control of both and is with us in and through both. Isn't interesting that when things are going well we take the credit and when they are going poorly we can often blame God. Thank you Lord for the blessings in my life and promising to walk with me through it all.