"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials..." James
1:2

We know James 1:2-4 very well and today let's see a little of what Scripture says about adversities. Here James is telling us that trials bring about growth so that we are lacking in nothing.
He tells us in Vs. 12,
"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

Of these adversities Scripture tells that they-- Humble us:
"Now when he (Manasseh) was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty heard his supplication and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God."
2 Chronicles 33:12-13
(Read of Manasseh's disobedience, his humbling through adversities, his turning to the Lord and his restoration. 2 Chronicles 33:1-20)

To lead us to God's word ( This is not only to the Hebrews, but to all who belong to the Lord, adversities lead us to His word.):
"And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord." Deuteronomy 8:2-3

To chasten and correct:
"If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons...but if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons." Hebrews 12:7-8 "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous, nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Vs. 11 (We all know Hebrews 12:5-11, but it is good to remind ourselves that this is because God loves us!)

To test our faith:
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being more precious than gold that perishes, through it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 1:6-7
(The 'in this' refers "to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you." Vs. 4)

To give us rest:
"Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, And teach out of Your law, That You may give him rest (relief) from the days of adversity..."
Psalm  94:12-13

Adversities are either a stepping stone or a stumbling block!
As Believers it is a stepping stone and our response is to 'count it all joy'!  For we know that it is God, our Father through Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit who is at work establishing the Church, His Bride for oneness with Him.

Here is an acrostic of the word adversity that I ran across recently by Charles Stanley:
"Accept the events of your life as part of how God equips you.

Decide to follow Jesus' ways of responding to trials.

Veer neither to the right nor to the left from the path of obedience.

Expect the Holy Spirit to help you grow through your difficulties.

Remember how the Lord has helped you in the past.

Set your face like flint (Isa. 50:7) to endure the trial without wavering.

Invest additional time in your relationship with God.

Trust the Lord, especial when you do not understand.

Yearn to be made ready for the return of our savior."

As the Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:17, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

Thank you most Holy and gracious Lord for loving us so much! Amen