Adversity's Adversary: Choosing Faith and Courage in the Face of Life's Difficulties

By D.E. Martin

Adversity’s Adversary is a must read for anyone
who is going through, or knows someone going
through serious struggles in their life. This small
book packs a big punch for all who read it! The
author, D. E. Martin, with the help of her obnoxious
beagle, shows the reader how to choose
faith and optimism i

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Aug 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9781640883826

Book preview

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ADVERSITY’S ADVERSARY

CHOOSING FAITH AND COURAGE IN THE FACE OF LIFE’S DIFFICULTIES

D. E. MARTIN

Trilogy Christian Publishers

Tustin, CA

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive

Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2019 by D. E. Martin

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Cambridge Edition: 1769.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

For information, address Trilogy Christian Publishing

Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, Ca 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/ TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-64088-381-9

ISBN 978-1-64088-382-6 (e-book)

Contents

Introduction: What’s This All About? vii

Chapter 1. Victim or Victor 1

Chapter 2. How I Became Adversity’s Adversary 9

Chapter 3. A Grateful Heart 13

Chapter 4. The Joy of Jousting 19

Chapter 5. Beagle Training: Part 1 of 3

This Dog Don’t Hunt 23

Chapter 6. Beagle Training: Part 2 of 3

Bark and Call 28

Chapter 7. Beagle Training: Part 3 of 3

Hail and Farewell, O, King of Shenanigans 39

Chapter 8. Saint Least of These 45

Chapter 9. Now Ain’t That Somethin’ 51

Chapter 10. Past Due 57

Chapter 11. Adventures in Aggravation 63

Chapter 12. I Ain’t No Wildebeest 73

Chapter 13. Your Adventure Awaits 81

Chapter 14. A Warrior’s Invitation 87

To those who are faithfully waiting,

Your dreams may have been crushed, criticized, unrealized, or delayed, but take heart. God has not forgotten you. So, buckle up. There’s nothing like the powerful rush of answered prayer.

INTRODUCTION

What’s This All About?

Somewhere between our beginning and end, we fill that void with our lives. It overflows with expectations and the reality of the unexpected. Spiritual decisions that changed everything. Love realized and relinquished; the euphoria of joy and the tender spots that remind us of our pain. Of hope fulfilled and the shards of broken dreams that remain. The people who made an indelible impact, changing us forever, sometimes for better or worse. Choices we cherish, those we regret, and the wild cards that drive us to excel or expire. Those unexpected, breathtaking surprises that, well, can actually take our breath.

For all of my adult life, which sometimes feels like double dog years, I have struggled with asthma. It has changed my life in ways I never knew were possible. At the age of twenty-one I was diagnosed with asthma and as I’ve aged it has grown progressively worse. So, I began to think maybe I could turn this experience into a way to encourage those of you out there who know the real meaning of suffering.

Right here is where I acknowledge that I have had a problem admitting that I have suffered and at times, greatly. When we hear about suffering, we often think of pain and weakness. I am a strong believer in miraculous healing and praying for it. From experience, I learned that suffering does not make you weak at all, but builds a steadfast strength. Suffering may not be physical, but the remedy is the same. To those who have voiced that they think believing in God is a crutch, I will answer that I have found immeasurable relief and peace by leaning into the everlasting arms of Christ. I pray that their eyes are opened to the benefits of knowing Jesus this way because they truly have no idea of what they’re missing.

My suffering is not just about wheezing. It is about the physical and emotional pain of dreams being waylaid and living a life never expected. As a girl I was an opera phenom. I started voice lessons at the age of thirteen with an extremely mature voice much like you hear on talent shows. I made plans with my voice teacher about hopefully being able to audition for the Met. We talked all the time about my future. Then one year I went on a summer tour with a church choir and called her to let her know I would be gone. When I returned, she swore I had not notified her and would not let me come back. I had been with her for a few years and was devastated, but then so was she, as her mother, who lived with her, had died unexpectedly in an accident while I was away. I found out later that she let a lot of students go, but I took this rejection personally. I never found another teacher with her vocal knowledge, nor the information she had, no matter how hard I tried. We did not have computer access like we do now and so my career ended before it started.

Not being a quitter, I wrote and called people, but nothing panned out. Then a few years later I was diagnosed with asthma. It took me until recently to look deeply into myself to forgive her. I honestly thought I had, but I realized that grief for what I had lost was clouding my vision. I never want to hold anything negative within me because it just takes up the space of grace where I could be receiving blessings. I value forgiveness so much in my own life that I always want God to find it in