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The Blessing of Adversity: Finding Your God-given Purpose in Life's Troubles
Most people see trouble as something negative and seek to avoid it whenever possible. But what if it’s those troubles that actually lead to greater blessing and purpose? In The Blessing of Adversity , a retired U.S. Navy admiral and the 62nd chaplain of the U.S. Senate distills the wisdom gained from thirty years as a counselor, theologian, and psychologist. Barry Black offers a blueprint for removing the sting of life’s trials, showing us how to let God use our pain for his glory by blessing others―and how that can actually help heal our own pain. Drawing on Scripture and his own experiences as a counselor and chaplain to some of the most powerful people in the world, Black teaches us how to deal with seasons of God’s apparent silence, offers techniques for staying encouraged in the middle of life’s storms, and shows how to find advantages in adversity.
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2011
28 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Barry C. Black
8 books23 followersOn June 27, 2003, Rear Admiral Barry C. Black (Ret.) was elected as the sixty-second chaplain of the US Senate, an office established in 1789. Prior to coming to Capitol Hill, Chaplain Black served in the US Navy for more than twenty-seven years, ending his distinguished career as the chief of navy chaplains.
Commissioned as a US Navy chaplain in 1976, Chaplain Black's first duty station was the Fleet Religious Support Activity in Norfolk, VA. Subsequent assignments included Naval Support Activity, Philadelphia, PA; US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD; First Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan; Naval Training Center, San Diego, CA; USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3), Long Beach, CA; Naval Chaplains School Advanced Course, Newport, RI; Marine Aircraft Group 31, Beaufort, SC; Assistant Staff Chaplain, Chief of Naval Education and Training, Pensacola, FL; and Fleet Chaplain, US Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, VA.
As rear admiral, his personal decorations included the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and numerous unit awards, campaign, and service medals.
Chaplain Black is a native of Baltimore, MD, and an alumnus of Oakwood College, Andrews University, North Carolina Central University, Eastern Baptist Seminary, Salve Regina University, and United States International University. In addition to earning master of arts degrees in divinity, counseling, and management, he has received a doctorate degree in ministry and a doctor of philosophy degree in psychology.
Chaplain Black has been recognized for many outstanding achievements. Of particular note, he was chosen from among 127 nominees for the 1995 NAACP Renowned Service Award for his contribution to equal opportunity and civil rights. He also received the 2002 Benjamin Elijah Mays Distinguished Leadership Award from the Morehouse School of Religion. In 2004, the Old Dominion University chapter of the NAACP conferred on him the Image Award, "Reaffirming the Dream—Realizing the Vision," for military excellence.
Chaplain Black is married to the former Brenda Pearsall of St. Petersburg, FL. They have three sons: Barry II, Brendan, and Bradford.
Commissioned as a US Navy chaplain in 1976, Chaplain Black's first duty station was the Fleet Religious Support Activity in Norfolk, VA. Subsequent assignments included Naval Support Activity, Philadelphia, PA; US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD; First Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan; Naval Training Center, San Diego, CA; USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3), Long Beach, CA; Naval Chaplains School Advanced Course, Newport, RI; Marine Aircraft Group 31, Beaufort, SC; Assistant Staff Chaplain, Chief of Naval Education and Training, Pensacola, FL; and Fleet Chaplain, US Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, VA.
As rear admiral, his personal decorations included the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and numerous unit awards, campaign, and service medals.
Chaplain Black is a native of Baltimore, MD, and an alumnus of Oakwood College, Andrews University, North Carolina Central University, Eastern Baptist Seminary, Salve Regina University, and United States International University. In addition to earning master of arts degrees in divinity, counseling, and management, he has received a doctorate degree in ministry and a doctor of philosophy degree in psychology.
Chaplain Black has been recognized for many outstanding achievements. Of particular note, he was chosen from among 127 nominees for the 1995 NAACP Renowned Service Award for his contribution to equal opportunity and civil rights. He also received the 2002 Benjamin Elijah Mays Distinguished Leadership Award from the Morehouse School of Religion. In 2004, the Old Dominion University chapter of the NAACP conferred on him the Image Award, "Reaffirming the Dream—Realizing the Vision," for military excellence.
Chaplain Black is married to the former Brenda Pearsall of St. Petersburg, FL. They have three sons: Barry II, Brendan, and Bradford.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 28, 2024
This is a fantastic book for the new disciple, seasoned saint, and even reluctant skeptics. CH Black speaks in a friendly tone, yet boldly presents the truth with a common sense approach. I appreciate this reminder that God uses adversity to deepen and grow his people. Loved the Scriptural application!
February 7, 2017
Barry C. Black is the Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. He grew up in inner city Baltimore but had a mother who used her welfare checks to put all five of her children in Christian boarding schools. This book is evidence of an excellent education. It is apparent from the book that not only is Mr. Black well-versed in the Bible but also knowledgeable in classical literature. His book is riddled with quotes of works by everyone from Plato to Shakespeare. Not only is he a prolific reader but he is a proficent writer. The Blessing of Adversity is written (without a co or ghost writer) in a lucid, well-organized and fluid manner that makes it easy to read and understand.
Black divides the book up into three sections. The first contains different strategies to dealing with hardship and troubles that come into our life. He uses many passages of scripture to support what he says. At the end of each chapter is a summary of the action plan outlined as a list of goals to accomplish.
In the second section Black discusses how to avoid trouble by not worrying but trusting God, running away from temptations and turning loss into gain. In the final section he details how to increase your faith and using the adversity that God has put into your life as an opportunity to become strong in Him.
Included are personal stories of how Mr. Black became a gang member, narrowly escaped a life of crime and prison to become a Navy Chaplain then the U.S. Senate chaplain. He also shares a few experiences from his work with different senators and other political leaders. I recommend this book for anyone who would like solid, scripturally based strategies for overcoming the odds of life and living a life that has joy and victory. The Blessing of Adversity is for someone who wants to say in the midst of affliction “I am blessed!”
This book was given to me by Tyndale Publishing company in exchange for my honest review.
Black divides the book up into three sections. The first contains different strategies to dealing with hardship and troubles that come into our life. He uses many passages of scripture to support what he says. At the end of each chapter is a summary of the action plan outlined as a list of goals to accomplish.
In the second section Black discusses how to avoid trouble by not worrying but trusting God, running away from temptations and turning loss into gain. In the final section he details how to increase your faith and using the adversity that God has put into your life as an opportunity to become strong in Him.
Included are personal stories of how Mr. Black became a gang member, narrowly escaped a life of crime and prison to become a Navy Chaplain then the U.S. Senate chaplain. He also shares a few experiences from his work with different senators and other political leaders. I recommend this book for anyone who would like solid, scripturally based strategies for overcoming the odds of life and living a life that has joy and victory. The Blessing of Adversity is for someone who wants to say in the midst of affliction “I am blessed!”
This book was given to me by Tyndale Publishing company in exchange for my honest review.
June 19, 2019
This was an excellent, life-changing read. Black provides readers with practical applications that help with dealing with adversities. Each chapter included an Action Plan as well as real-world and biblical examples of those who overcame and struggled with adversity.
This book would make a great devotional. I took my time as I wanted to take time to apply the action steps but also journal while I read. It is not a thick book, which probably can be read within a couple of days. However, I would recommend readers take their time with this book. It will be well worth it.
This book would make a great devotional. I took my time as I wanted to take time to apply the action steps but also journal while I read. It is not a thick book, which probably can be read within a couple of days. However, I would recommend readers take their time with this book. It will be well worth it.
August 23, 2018
Chaplain Black is an outstanding Preacher!! I was not as impressed with this book as I had hoped or expected. It does have some helpful nuggets of encouragement and wisdom, but it was a long, slow read for me. If I were not the type to finish what I start, I probably would have put this book back on the shelf a long time ago.
February 15, 2020
Another inspiring excellent read from this author. It had some of the same points touched on in another of his books, Make Your Voice Heard in Heaven, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of the book since these spiritual truths are worth emphasizing. I found this book very helpful on a spiritual, daily-living level. Very encouraging and enlightening.
April 8, 2019
Kinda slow and drawn out at times, but it was a decent read where you'll be able to get some nuggets out of it.
July 9, 2012
I recently had the pleasure of reading “The Blessing of Adversity” by Chaplain of the United States Senate Barry C. Black. I have to express my gratitude to Jocelyn for introducing me to this renowned counselor, leader, and author. Chaplain Barry Black has given the military community a gift that will be treasured by all who venture to glean from the wealth and wisdom found within, to experience the God-given purpose in our troubles and receive His greater blessing.
This book was just released in April 2011 and is currently on the Best-Seller list! But this is not what captivated my heart. I was intrigued by these statements and question found on the publisher’s website.
“Most people see trouble as something negative and seek to avoid it whenever possible. But what if it’s those troubles that actually lead to greater blessing and purpose?”
“In The Blessing of Adversity, a retired U.S. Navy admiral and the 62nd chaplain of the U.S. Senate distills the wisdom gained from thirty years as a counselor, theologian, and psychologist. Barry Black offers a blueprint for removing the sting of life’s trials, showing us how to let God use our pain for his glory by blessing others—and how that can actually help heal our own pain. Drawing on Scripture and his own experiences as a counselor and chaplain to some of the most powerful people in the world, Black teaches us how to deal with seasons of God’s apparent silence, offers techniques for staying encouraged in the middle of life’s storms, and shows how to find advantages in adversity.”
The military community is no stranger to adversity. “No matter what the challenge is, we are all familiar with the feeling of wrenching grief when what we once felt certain we would always have – family, joy, peace – is lost in the midst of painful circumstances.”
Chaplain Barry Black has been there too. By God’s grace, he overcame many challenges and obstacles, and used what he learned through the pain to minister to members of the military and their families throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Throughout his book, Chaplain Black interweaves his personal life lessons with the truths of Scripture and prods us with poignant questions to help us find the hope we need to persevere, to survive life’s brokenness.
Here are a few more questions that captured my heart:
1. Have you ever looked back at one of the difficult seasons of your life and seen more positives than negatives?
2. Have your anxieties prompted you to doubt God’s fatherly love?
3. As you deal with the challenges of emotional captivity, do you continue to produce a harvest that will glorify God?
4. Have you ever wondered if your dark days of trouble will end?
5. What have you learned from your suffering?
6. Why do bad things happen to good people?
7. What comfort has God given you that will enable you to help another hurting person?
8. Have you ever wondered why God is often silent?
9. How can we tame temptation?
10. Are you willing to accept God’s plan for your life?
11. When life’s storms rage, what should we do?
The twenty-three chapters are divided into three categories: Mastering the Basics, Avoiding the Sources of Trouble, and Turning Your Adversity into Advantage. At the end of each chapter we are given an action plan to help us retain the wisdom and knowledge found within.
For Example:
An Action Plan To Help You Celebrate Your Troubles
1. Guard your tongue
2. Stay positive
3. Be constant
4. Grow up
5. Use your map
6. Control your doubts
These action plans can be copied and posted throughout your home the same way we post memory verses. You might even modify each plan by adding a key Scripture verse to each point. These plans serve as great reminders to cling to the Lord's promises and His hope; knowing we will receive a greater blessing and see His divine purpose magnified through our lives and the lives of our families, as we persevere through adversity.
It is my recommendation that every military couple, Blue Star mom and their soldiers own at least two copies of The Blessing of Adversity. This book would make a wonderful gift for our extended family members too!
This book was just released in April 2011 and is currently on the Best-Seller list! But this is not what captivated my heart. I was intrigued by these statements and question found on the publisher’s website.
“Most people see trouble as something negative and seek to avoid it whenever possible. But what if it’s those troubles that actually lead to greater blessing and purpose?”
“In The Blessing of Adversity, a retired U.S. Navy admiral and the 62nd chaplain of the U.S. Senate distills the wisdom gained from thirty years as a counselor, theologian, and psychologist. Barry Black offers a blueprint for removing the sting of life’s trials, showing us how to let God use our pain for his glory by blessing others—and how that can actually help heal our own pain. Drawing on Scripture and his own experiences as a counselor and chaplain to some of the most powerful people in the world, Black teaches us how to deal with seasons of God’s apparent silence, offers techniques for staying encouraged in the middle of life’s storms, and shows how to find advantages in adversity.”
The military community is no stranger to adversity. “No matter what the challenge is, we are all familiar with the feeling of wrenching grief when what we once felt certain we would always have – family, joy, peace – is lost in the midst of painful circumstances.”
Chaplain Barry Black has been there too. By God’s grace, he overcame many challenges and obstacles, and used what he learned through the pain to minister to members of the military and their families throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Throughout his book, Chaplain Black interweaves his personal life lessons with the truths of Scripture and prods us with poignant questions to help us find the hope we need to persevere, to survive life’s brokenness.
Here are a few more questions that captured my heart:
1. Have you ever looked back at one of the difficult seasons of your life and seen more positives than negatives?
2. Have your anxieties prompted you to doubt God’s fatherly love?
3. As you deal with the challenges of emotional captivity, do you continue to produce a harvest that will glorify God?
4. Have you ever wondered if your dark days of trouble will end?
5. What have you learned from your suffering?
6. Why do bad things happen to good people?
7. What comfort has God given you that will enable you to help another hurting person?
8. Have you ever wondered why God is often silent?
9. How can we tame temptation?
10. Are you willing to accept God’s plan for your life?
11. When life’s storms rage, what should we do?
The twenty-three chapters are divided into three categories: Mastering the Basics, Avoiding the Sources of Trouble, and Turning Your Adversity into Advantage. At the end of each chapter we are given an action plan to help us retain the wisdom and knowledge found within.
For Example:
An Action Plan To Help You Celebrate Your Troubles
1. Guard your tongue
2. Stay positive
3. Be constant
4. Grow up
5. Use your map
6. Control your doubts
These action plans can be copied and posted throughout your home the same way we post memory verses. You might even modify each plan by adding a key Scripture verse to each point. These plans serve as great reminders to cling to the Lord's promises and His hope; knowing we will receive a greater blessing and see His divine purpose magnified through our lives and the lives of our families, as we persevere through adversity.
It is my recommendation that every military couple, Blue Star mom and their soldiers own at least two copies of The Blessing of Adversity. This book would make a wonderful gift for our extended family members too!
May 22, 2011
This is an Advanced Reader Copy - Unedited Version
Calling on his knowledge as a Chaplain and counselor, mixed with the wisdom taken from scripture, Chaplain Black provides a blueprint to help us find God's blessing in the midst of our troubles. He aims to empower us to embrace the challenges and allow God to use our pain for His glory, saying "If you use your pain to bless others, you'll find true healing in the experience".
The Blessing of Adversity is divided into 3 main parts. Part 1 deals with Mastering the Basics, which is broken down into 16 sections. We learn how to celebrate our troubles, trust God's plan, face life's pressures with faith and master the spiritual disciplines, among others. Part 2 is titled Avoiding the Sources of Troubles, and teaches how to tame your temptations, win over worry and gain by losing, to name a few. Part 3 is titled Turning Your Adversity to Advantage and teaches how to supersize your faith and how to build a storm-proof life.
Each chapter contains an action plan to help us move toward finding God's purpose in our troubles. Here's an example of an action plan designed to help us celebrate our troubles:
1. Guard your tongue
2. Stay positive
3. Be constant
4. Grow up
5. Use your map
6. Control your doubts
Chaplain Black goes into detail concerning each step of the action plan, explaining how and why we should implement each step.
At one point or another in our life each of us will face trials and tribulations and this book just may help. It provides a great step by step guide and action plan to help us traverse life with the ability to see and recognize God's blessings even in the midst of our darkest nights.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Tyndale Blogger Network book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Calling on his knowledge as a Chaplain and counselor, mixed with the wisdom taken from scripture, Chaplain Black provides a blueprint to help us find God's blessing in the midst of our troubles. He aims to empower us to embrace the challenges and allow God to use our pain for His glory, saying "If you use your pain to bless others, you'll find true healing in the experience".
The Blessing of Adversity is divided into 3 main parts. Part 1 deals with Mastering the Basics, which is broken down into 16 sections. We learn how to celebrate our troubles, trust God's plan, face life's pressures with faith and master the spiritual disciplines, among others. Part 2 is titled Avoiding the Sources of Troubles, and teaches how to tame your temptations, win over worry and gain by losing, to name a few. Part 3 is titled Turning Your Adversity to Advantage and teaches how to supersize your faith and how to build a storm-proof life.
Each chapter contains an action plan to help us move toward finding God's purpose in our troubles. Here's an example of an action plan designed to help us celebrate our troubles:
1. Guard your tongue
2. Stay positive
3. Be constant
4. Grow up
5. Use your map
6. Control your doubts
Chaplain Black goes into detail concerning each step of the action plan, explaining how and why we should implement each step.
At one point or another in our life each of us will face trials and tribulations and this book just may help. It provides a great step by step guide and action plan to help us traverse life with the ability to see and recognize God's blessings even in the midst of our darkest nights.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Tyndale Blogger Network book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
January 28, 2016
1CThe Blessing of Adversity 1D is straight to the point from page one. 18Barry C. Black 19 narrates the message in poignant style to the readers. The objective is to assist us in finding our God 19s given purpose in life 19s troubles. And, Barry succeeds in the same to a greater extent. He delves on three important topics --
mastering the basics
avoiding the sources of trouble
turning your adversity into advantage
The tips offered are head on and cheeky. All the chapters in this book are precise and crispy which makes our reading interesting. Many of the Barry 19s advice are pragmatic and one could easily relate to what he is uttering throughout this book. Barry refers to the Scriptures often and makes Biblical value based suggestion to the audience.
Some of the precious gems of recommendation from Barry:
v Seeking God with intensity
v Developing the right perspective
v Being passionate about change
v Taming the temper
v Refusing to murmur or complain
v Respecting life 19s season and adapting to varied soils
v Staying productive
v Being tenacious
v Going the extra mile
On the flip side, I would say that many points are repetitive throughout the book. In many instances, Barry repeats the same point again and again which may bring down one 19s enthusiasm while reading the book. He could have avoided such repetitions.
My take on this book -- three out of five stars.
Please note that I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers through its book review bloggers program in exchange for an honest review. Also be informed that the opinions I have expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
mastering the basics
avoiding the sources of trouble
turning your adversity into advantage
The tips offered are head on and cheeky. All the chapters in this book are precise and crispy which makes our reading interesting. Many of the Barry 19s advice are pragmatic and one could easily relate to what he is uttering throughout this book. Barry refers to the Scriptures often and makes Biblical value based suggestion to the audience.
Some of the precious gems of recommendation from Barry:
v Seeking God with intensity
v Developing the right perspective
v Being passionate about change
v Taming the temper
v Refusing to murmur or complain
v Respecting life 19s season and adapting to varied soils
v Staying productive
v Being tenacious
v Going the extra mile
On the flip side, I would say that many points are repetitive throughout the book. In many instances, Barry repeats the same point again and again which may bring down one 19s enthusiasm while reading the book. He could have avoided such repetitions.
My take on this book -- three out of five stars.
Please note that I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers through its book review bloggers program in exchange for an honest review. Also be informed that the opinions I have expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
July 21, 2011
If you are going through anything right now this book is a good reminder that God does not leave those who are faithful to Him. Author Barry Black gives detailed accounts from the bible of others who have gone through hardships and on the other side came out well. "In this world you will have troubles, but take heart, I have overcome the world."
January 18, 2015
Thank you, Dr. Black, for inspiring me while I'm laid up with an injury for a couple weeks. A few major themes I picked up were: having positive people around you is vital to persevering through trials, and expecting difficulty in life can make us rely on God's power at all times.
December 28, 2012
Loved loved this book on politics, religion, fellowship with unusual, and path from nothing to someone who influences Americas Politicians.
January 7, 2016
This was a very insightful read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews