Oswald Chambers has a way of poking his finger in the eye of discontent. Every time I come to the reading titled “The Habit of Enjoying Adversity” in My Utmost for His Highest, there’s a certain internal groan because I have an advanced degree in not enjoying adversity. But, thanks to the Spirit within me, there’s also an anticipation of further experiencing what he’s writing about.

“The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, “Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this.” Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.

Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is.“

In recent weeks I feel like I’m being tutored into a deeper understanding of what it means to trust God. I’ve had plenty of opportunity in the past to learn something about that, but the older I get the more I realize I’ve really only taken a step or two in that direction. There’s more; much more.

My tendency is to experience difficulty in light of how it affects me. My “acute sense of eagerness” is directed toward resolution and comfort for myself and those I care about. I do want Jesus to evidence Himself in me, but I’d like it not to be too painful, please, and accomplished quickly, thanks.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ~2 Cor. 4:7-11

I’ve read this verse and heard it preached countless times. Generally, the focus is on our being afflicted, perplexed, and persecuted (and winsome, long-suffering) little jars of clay. In other words, how circumstances affect us. We ignore God’s purpose in the circumstance: “to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is;” “to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in or mortal flesh.” The outcome of our self-focus is that we don’t really buy this verse; we often feel crushed, driven to despair, forsaken and about to be destroyed. Jesus’ yoke doesn’t feel very easy, nor does His burden feel light (Matthew 11:28-30). And I think we do that to ourselves in our fight for control.

The only resolution is to ask God to redirect our “acute sense of eagerness” from ourselves to His Son. If our true first eagerness is the display of His perfection and purity, we’ll lean into His yoke rather than strain against it. He’ll give us grace to remain steady and patient—and joyous!!—in adversity. We’ll pray for His kingdom to come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven and delight that, for Jesus’ sake, our circumstances are a means for that to happen. It’s an amazing thought.