“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
There are many questions that Christians face, but I suppose one of the hardest questions to answer is: “Why do we have to deal with so much adversity?” Ironically, the other morning when I was walking Buddy and listening to Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis he related a dog walking analogy that gave a pretty good answer. 
Lewis likened God’s use of adversity to walking a dog. If the dog gets its leash wrapped around a pole and tries to continue running forward, he will only tighten the leash more. Both the dog and the owner are after the same end: going forward. But the owner must resist the dog by pulling him opposite of the direction that he wants to go. The master, sharing the same intention, but understanding better than the dog where he really wants to go, takes an action precisely opposite to that of the dog’s will. It is in this way that God uses adversity!
We really don’t like being pulled and corrected by the Lord — but when we understand there’s a greater purpose involved, then we can pass through adversity with hope, expectation and steadfastness knowing these events are for a greater good! Unlike the dog, who often has no understanding of this pulling and tugging, we can learn from our trials and tribulations and not fight God so much as he tries to direct us for our own good. 
“Enduring trials faithfully will produce perseverance, character, and hope. And hope will not disappoint us for the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” Romans 5:4-5 We truly can trust in the God who loves us with an everlasting love because He knows the direction we need to go, AND He knows exactly how to get us there.
If we are struggling with our difficulties it is good
for us to remember that these same difficulties can strengthen us . We are in a battle against the enemy and God prepares us for bigger and bigger battles through His protection and His training. The Lord’s weapons are spiritual; they include a knowledge of the scriptures, the power of the Holy Spirit which increases with a devoted prayer life, the courage which comes only with deep trust, and His wisdom which reveals His strategy for our present situation. We will never grow short of these weapons unless we fail to avail ourselves to them.
In the 1940’s, the world fought against the greatest evil 
it had ever seen, Adolf Hitler and his terrible regime. In the midst of this war, Winston Churchill said, “We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear — is fear itself!”
Even though those are well-known quotes, probably the most famous quote of the war was just one word, “Nuts.” 
Gen. Anthony Clement McAuliffe and the American troops had been holding the Belgian town of Bastogne “at all costs,” and on Dec. 22, Gen. McAuliffe received the encouraging news that the 4th Armored Division was beginning its drive north to relieve the 101st. They just needed to hang on a few more days. Later that morning, they saw four Germans coming up the road carrying a white flag. Everyone hoped they were offering surrender, but instead they presented two pages demanding the Americans’ surrender: “To the USA Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne…There is only one possibility…the honorable surrender of the encircled town.”
McAuliffe glanced at the message and said, “Aw, nuts!” When trying to decide how to respond, the consensus of the officers was to send back McAuliffe’s first response. Everyone laughed as a sergeant typed up the succinct response: “To the German Commander: ‘Nuts!’ The American Commander.” Between this stoic reply, Patton’s troops from the south, and a change in the weather that allowed air reinforcements, the 101st was able to hold Bastogne for the needed time. These actions helped assure the final defeat of the Germans.
McAuliffe’s response became a lasting symbol of American courage and determination under fire. His response was basically a one word answer that meant “We will not surrender at any cost and you can go hang yourself.” 
We are constantly getting surrender demands from the enemy. Satan and the world try to goad us into giving up. They promise that survival will be the result and if we don’t surrender we face annihilation. But surrendering is not an option. We have reinforcements poised and in position. We have a commander who sees our situation. If we just remain strong, He will relieve us. When we feel wrapped around a pole or trapped within our soul, God has not abandoned us. We can stand firm and send the message back to the enemy, “Nuts.” Let’s recognize that in truth victory is already ours because ”Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world!” We will be stronger than we were before because we will have tapped into the power of God and used it to defeat the enemy. Keep battling- We win- I have read the Book.