Shaped by Adversity
How Adversity Shapes Us
I’m writing this from the heart of the Montana wilderness, where I’m serving with Mountain Gateway, guiding a group through the rugged terrain of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. This trip is a highlight of my year—because out here, something powerful happens.
When you strip away the noise, the schedules, and the screens, you begin to see yourself clearly. And more often than not, that clarity comes in the middle of discomfort.
This week, I want to share a hard-earned lesson from the trail: adversity is not the enemy—it’s the training ground.
Tolerance for Adversity
“Great leaders aren’t the ones with the fewest problems—they’re the ones with the strongest attitudes.”
Romans 5:3–5 puts it like this:
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame…” (ESV)
Brothers, the Bible doesn’t present suffering as a dead-end—it frames it as a tool to produce good things in our life. God uses hardship to shape us into men of character, men of endurance, men who carry hope.
Adversity doesn’t disqualify us—it prepares us to lead.
Challenge Is the Teacher
We don’t grow by avoiding hardship—we grow by walking through it with open hands and open hearts.
Here’s what we’re learning on the trail (and in life):
Discomfort isn’t the enemy—it’s part of the process.
Pain often comes right before breakthrough.
Growth often happens right after the moment we’re tempted to quit.
If you’re feeling the heat, remember—it’s forging you into someone stronger.
Mindset Is the Multiplier
The conditions around us matter—but what matters more is the conversation inside us.
To grow through adversity, we need to shift from victim-thinking (“Why me?”) to ownership-thinking (“What now?”).
Try these mindset shifts:
“This is happening for me, not to me.”
“I can’t control the weather, but I can control my response.”
“There’s always something I can do.”
Your mindset won’t eliminate the challenge—but it will expand your capacity to lead through it.
5 Core Traits of Resilient Leaders
Want to lead well in hard seasons? Cultivate these traits:
Optimism – Believe the situation can improve. It doesn’t ignore reality—it confronts it with hope.
Adaptability – Be willing to pivot and find creative solutions.
Emotional Flexibility – Stay calm when needed, bold when it counts. Balance weight with lightness.
Empathy – Tune in to those around you. Leading with heart builds loyalty and trust.
Sense of Humor – Laugh in the storm. It breaks tension and bonds brothers.
Own Your Stress
Stress isn’t just what happens around you—it’s how you interpret and respond.
True leaders don’t just survive stress—they own it:
Build self-awareness through honest reflection.
Debrief hard moments with your brothers or small group.
Identify your personal stress signals (irritability, sarcasm, isolation) and plan better responses.
“Survivors see crises as challenges to overcome, not threats to avoid.”
See the Growth in the Grind
That hardship you’re facing? It has value.
Every time you don’t quit, you’re being shaped in a way no podcast, book, or seminar ever could.
Let this truth anchor you:
This challenge has purpose.
This moment is shaping the man you’re becoming.
Your Move This Week
Pick one adversity you’re facing right now. Write it down.
Then ask yourself:
What is this teaching me?
How is God using this to build my endurance, character, or hope?
Share what you learn with a friend, a brother, or your men’s group. Let’s keep sharpening each other as we walk this narrow road together.
Stay strong, brothers. The grind is building you into the man God has called you to be.