Developing Resilience: Part One
Developing Resilience: Part One
No one else can do what you were born to do and called by God to do. You're on a mission, and God expects you to complete it.
Welcome to the 56th post of The Aim and Soar Life, a weekly newsletter about faith, personal growth, and lifestyle that provides actionable, relatable, and biblically rooted content to help you live abundantly and GROW YOU. GOD’S WAY.
Greetings!
Happy April! I’m praying that God blesses abundantly this week.
Please join me in continued prayer for all those who have been affected by severe weather. Our prayers matter because our Father listens to us.
The theme for April is Resilience. When you notice all the spring flowers beginning to poke out from their underground hiding places, you are observing their resilience. When you hear about or speak to people who have survived tragedies or serious illnesses and their faith is still intact and strong, you are witnessing resilience at its best.
I want to talk to you about white picket fences, which often symbolize the “perfect life.” If you are wondering what white picket fences have to do with resilience, stick with me. Boy, do I have a story to share with you!
White Picket Fences
About 12 years ago, I was having a spiritual pity party. I was crying, “snotting,” and complaining to God. Life wasn’t supposed to be so hard. Why couldn’t I have the things I’d dreamed about since I was a kid? Where was my fantasy white picket fence life?
In the middle of my tantrum, these words came into my spirit: “You are a soldier. You don’t get a white picket fence. There are no white picket fences on the battlefield.”
The Lord was telling me to “suck it up,” but not in a harsh way. I know this because He gave me peace at that moment (after I hemmed and hawed a bit for theatrics😂).
He wasn’t telling me that I would never have good times in my life, or that I wouldn’t have slices of “happiness,” He was responding to the ridiculous thing I desired.
What I really wanted at the time was an easy life. Picture-perfect. No problems. No stress. Just like in some (ahem) movies and books.
The Lord reminded me that life is not a fairy tale. It isn’t going to be easy all the time. And it certainly isn’t going to be some perfect fantasy. What I wanted wasn’t realistic. Jesus told us in John 16:33 that we would have troubles in this life. There is no way to get around this fact.
I have been called to a task and I have to see it through with some backbone.
Demonstrating Resilience is a Must-Do for Christians
When starting a new job, a new employee is usually given a manual, and in their training, they receive a list of things that must be done on the job to fulfill the duties of the position. Well, as Christians, we’ve got some must-dos for our positions as soldiers in the army of the Lord.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, resilience is the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
In other words, resilience is the ability to keep going despite the challenges you face. There are many instances in Scripture that encourage us to do just that. For example, Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (NIV)
So how does one develop a spirit of resilience?
I’m glad you asked!
First, you must be strong and courageous.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9, NIV
Be Strong and Courageous
Let me take a moment to unpack Joshua 1:9 so that you can internalize it this week. This was spoken to Joshua after Moses’s death; as Moses’s successor, Joshua would be the one to lead the people of God over the Jordan and into the Promised Land.
The first thing the Lord does in this verse is to ask a rhetorical question. I love when the Lord does this because He allows us to reflect on what He’s saying to us or asking us. The question is to help Joshua bring to the forefront of his mind what God has already said to him in the past.
The Lord first instructed Joshua to be strong and courageous in verses 6 and 7. In verse 9, the Lord reiterates what He has already spoken.
We can infer that being strong and courageous is not a suggestion, it’s imperative. It’s a command. The Lord is not saying, “Hey Joshua, I want you to try and be strong and courageous,” or “It would be nice if you could be strong and courageous.”
He is telling Joshua to be strong and courageous. He’s saying, “do it.”
But what does being strong and courageous look like for us modern-day Christians?
For one, just like God’s response to my white-picket-fence tantrum, you must remember that you are a soldier. You have been chosen to carry out specific tasks in this life and God has fully equipped you with the tools, talents, and gifts needed for your mission. No one else can do what you were born to do and called by God to do. You’re on a mission, and God expects you to complete it.
This must become your focus.
Your strength and courage are built on the following truths:
1. God has called you to a specific mission in life.
2. God has equipped you to do what He’s called you to do.
3. God is with you.
That is some hallelujah news right there! Resilience starts with knowing the truth. Join me next week for Part Two. Peace and Love to You!
Until Next Time,
GROW YOU. GOD’S WAY.
Sherrhonda😍
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