Allow what’s in you to shape how you respond and refuse to be molded by what’s going on in the world.
Resiliency is the capacity to rebound from difficulties and tough times – to come back. Resiliency in action refuses to be shaped by what’s going on in the world, but instead allows what’s in you to shape how you respond to what’s going on.
Like a piece of elastic when stretched, resiliency goes back to its original shape. Play Doh is just the opposite. Instead of being resilient, it takes on the shape of whatever force is placed upon it. If squeezed, the pressure of my hand, an outer force reshapes the Play Doh into what I want it to look like.
It’s what’s on the inside that matters.
Elastic and Play Doh are two different substances made for two different purposes. Spiritual resiliency is about what you’re made of at the core. That’s what’s on the inside of you – the things people can’t see.
You’ve noticed them … those who seem to have everything together, but then they face a really difficult thing and they fall apart. They didn’t have enough resiliency and were shaped by external forces.
There’s a season and a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). We recognize seasons in our lives. Seasons of:
- Light and darkness.
- Joy and grief.
- New life and death.
- Success and failure
- Happiness and sadness.
- Fullness and emptiness in life.
You and I live our lives in the space between these two realities.
It’s not when things are happy, successful and full that you grow in life. You grow in the things that matter most in life when you’re going through failure, sadness, grief, death and emptiness.
In those times when I stood in front of the casket of one of my parents or someone I’ve loved and lost, that deeply challenged my reality of life. Or when I’ve come away from the doctor’s office after he’s said to me, “Hey, you need to work on this physical challenge in your life.” It becomes a time of growth for me, where I’m going to adapt and allow the situation to make me.
Your relationship with God is eternal. Truly knowing that He would never leave you, matters. It will make a difference in your life. Even if you find it difficult because maybe you didn’t experience that kind of love growing up, choose to recognize that God loves you; He cares for you.
We have a great cloud of witnesses around us (Hebrews 12:1).
I imagine saints of old that we read about in Scripture, peering over the edge of heaven witnessing our lives, cheering, encouraging and offering us hope to keep going. I encourage you not only to continue to hear the stories of Christians and experience the stories from Scripture of changed lives, but you can share your story to build resiliency in the lives of others.
The stories from your own life of how God has provided for you, strengthened you and been with you are important positive experiences that give the gift of hope.
Jesus asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. Allowing Him to be at work every day in your life is vital to building spiritual resiliency. As you continue to grow and change, that relationship is foundational to victory. It is what allows you to stay steady and firm in what matters most.
