How to Have Resiliency in Difficult Times
In this life, trouble is inevitable. Struggles occur more frequently than we like. Giving up at times seems like the better option. This life is not easy. However, God did not create us to fail. He created us to have resiliency and to endure. Not to endure in our power and capabilities, but with His power and His abilities!
But God did not promise this life to be easy. Matter of fact, He knew it would be the complete opposite. How do I know? His Word.
God says in Romans 5:3-5 in the King James Version (KJV), “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
Why would a God who loves us allow trials and problems in our lives? To change us, to develop endurance, the strength of character, which increases our hope of salvation.
Having a heart of resilience is not saying you’re strong enough to make it. It’s believing that God is stronger than your circumstances.
One of my favorite books in the Bible is Ruth. Not solely because of the love story between her and Boaz, but I admire the type of woman she was. From the death of her husband to leaving behind everything she knew, Ruth was resilient. In her resiliency, God bestowed blessings upon her life. Blessings that no man could ever provide her.
Cultivating a heart of resilience is not easy. In our humanity, when things become too hard, we often seek a much easier road. However, the easy road cannot mold and shape you into the woman that God intends for you to be.
When tragedies occur, when the stress seems overwhelming and not getting back appears to be more suitable, how do you endure? Here are 3 ways that help cultivate a resilient heart:
Relinquish Control
Let’s admit it, control is difficult to give up. If you’re like me, trying to control a situation makes me feel like I can determine the outcome. When a problem occurs, our immediate response is often to control the situation and find an immediate solution. Many of us don’t go to God first. We deeply think about what our next steps will be and ensure that we have found a way to resolve the problem.
Cultivating a heart of resilience requires us to relinquish control. To give up our will, for His perfect will to be done, whatever that looks like to Him.
Check Your Pulse Moment:
Trying to lead our lives will result in living a life of self-will rather than living a life surrendered to God’s will.
Trust God With The Unknown
The unknown can be scary. God is the past, present, and future. He is the epitome of time and space. Nothing happens without Him knowing and not occurs without first, His approval. Think about it: No hurricane, no earthquake, and not even who is elected president happens without God’s hand.
God can be trusted. It’s even more imperative to trust Him in our most difficult times? Why? He’s got it! When we trust Him, we don’t try to figure out an outcome. Instead, we trust Him with the outcome.
Obey Him
In moments of great turmoil, many of us find ourselves seeking out other people’s opinions. We lean towards people for our answers and their advice without asking God about what we should do.
During problems and trials, God is trying to teach us. Without struggles, our faith cannot be tested nor can we truly learn how to have a heart like God’s. Moments and even seasons of great challenges, are meant to change us. To make us more like Him.
Instead of seeking other people’s thoughts on how to handle a struggle, seek and obey God’s Word and what He speaks to you. Now, I am not saying not to seek Godly counsel. Godly counsel is vital to our Christian journey.
What I am implying is that you should not run to all your friends seeking answers about what you should do during a struggle. Ask God. Read His Word. Seek out Godly counsel who will encourage you to seek God’s will during your struggle.
Resiliency: Enduring Until The End
The Bible says in Hebrews 12:1-3 in the New International Version, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
The struggles you’re facing, the moments that you feel like giving up, allow them to shape and mold into the woman that He called you to be. You were created to be resilient, to endure, to make it.