Ecclesiastes 7:14 states, “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other…” There are good days and there are bad days. Gill writes, “God hath set the one over against the other; they are both by His appointment, and are set in their proper place, and come in their proper time; succeed each other, and answer to one another, as day and night, summer and winter, and work, together for the good of men.” ADVERSITY: An event, or series of events, which oppose success or desire; misfortune, calamity; affliction; distress, state of unhappiness. Edersheim writes, “For God to explain a trial would be to destroy its purpose…calling forth simple faith and implicit obedience.” God could have kept Daniel out of the lion’s den…He could have kept Paul and Silas out of jail…He could have kept the three Hebrew children out of the fiery furnace…but God has never promised to keep us out of hard places…what He has promised is to go with us through every hard place, and to bring us through victoriously. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10. Here is a good prayer in times of trouble. David prayed in Psalm 57:1, “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”
There are two days in every week about which we should not worry—two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its aches and pains, its faults and blunders. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot erase a single word we said. The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow’s sun will either rise in splendor or behind a mask of clouds—but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn. That leaves only one day—today. Any man can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities—yesterday and tomorrow—that we are liable to break down.
Spiritual people with a spirit of meekness are needed for days of adversity. Comforted people with a spirit of thanksgiving and praise are needed for days of adversity. Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such and one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” II Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.” “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Spurgeon writes, Take heart, then, thou afflicted Church, and faint not in the day of adversity, for God hath set over against it the day of prosperity, when thou shalt be built up with all the riches and treasures of His grace, and when thy mouth shall be filled with laughter, and thy tongue with singing; and then shalt thou say, “The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.”