Are You Resilient?
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
The Google definition for resilience is as follows: the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity. Perhaps the next question should be this: How would you rate your resilience?
Let’s start with the easiest kind of resilience—pregnancy. I am always amazed at how some women can deliver an infant averaging 7.6 pounds without any significant belly fat. They walk out of the hospital after giving birth with only a tiny midline bulge. Other women take months of hard work, exercise and dieting to get rid of their baby fat. Perhaps it is that ability to spring back into shape. Their muscles have elasticity.
We all have had difficulties and there will be more. Recovering quickly is a goal, but it does not always happen in the same way. The death of a loved one is not a quick recovery. The unkind word from a friend is a shorter mending time. Perhaps it all depends upon the situation.
The deeper the relationship, the longer the recuperation time. Or do I have it wrong? The depth of any relationship should make forgiveness simpler as resilience springs into action. We all know of situations where one or both could not work things out and forgive. The strength was observed after the relationship ended. For some it took years. For others it never happened. Yet life went on.
While Jesus was on earth, I don’t think He had to deal with being resilient. For those who were touched by Him, that’s a different story. Healing the blind, lame, sick, and speaking into the lives of men and women—now that required some change. They had a new spring in their step, a new spirit and hardiness that didn’t exist before. They also had stories to tell and unexplainable joy.
With Jesus’s help, we can withstand any problem and bounce back. What a secure feeling that creates in each of us. He is enough!
Gracious Father, thank You for Your strength that lifts me up. Teach me to cling to You when I face problems and to quickly forgive. AMEN.