There is power in prayer and even more power in prayer and fasting. Jesus taught the disciples this as they tried to help a demon-possessed girl and could not; “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). There is power available to us from the Lord, but it can only be accessed through prayer. And sometimes when the adversity is too great, it takes the combination of prayer and fasting to overcome it.
Some adversity requires godly wisdom to overcome. Proverbs 2:6-7a says, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright.” God has an abundance of wisdom that He wants to give us and all we must do is ask for it. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
Another area of help in adversity is friendship. A firm and constant friend can lend great strength and at times help see us through difficulties. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Remember, a brother can be a physical or a spiritual brother.
We also have at our disposal the fortitude of faith. In whatever we face, God has our best interest at heart and a plan to see us through. Jeremiah 29:11 validates, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” The Psalmist said, “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:11). We may not fully understand the “why” behind what we face, but as the praise song says, “When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.”
