“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:9

“For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.” Philippians 1:29

Why am I surprised when challenges come? I remember attending a festival “IlluminAsia-A Festival of Asian Art, Food and Cultures ” at Washington, DC. There was a booth where a potter flown in from Iraq was demonstrating pottery making. There was a long line of people waiting to try their hands on making an article that they can bring home and admire. I had to try this and stood in line watching the potter how the participants the art of pottery making. The requests for different shapes were numerous. I noticed that the potter was patient and very careful that the finished product was of the shape requested by each participant. He would not hesitate for the participant to start from start from scratch when the article is even slightly out of shape.

I was excited when it was my turn to try my hand at making pottery. It was the first time that I have tried my hand at the spin wheel. It was easy to put the lump of clay on the wheel and start spinning the wheel without any directions from the 2 hands. Result: no form of article emerge. I wanted to throw (pottery’s term for making) a small vase. The potter instructed me the steps to create a beautiful vase. to center the clay on the wheel and wheel started spinning to put my hand in the center of the clay to create a container or the sides to bring up the sides.

God is my Potter and with His gentle hands shaping me and guiding me. Just like the clay, He has to mold me and the sufferings and pain are His way of molding me so that I will be the exact model that He has in mind for me. When I am out of shape just like the clay,  He is not afraid to knock me down and start from scratch in order to build a better me. This is the power of resilience and the strength to ensure the challenges each time and to pick up the pieces and rise again stronger than before. God does this repeatedly until He sees me as He has planned for my life.

I must admit, I am always taken by surprise when challenges and trails come by. How vital for us to develop strength and grow our resilency so that we can succeed at fulfilling our potential. He God has built us with resiliency.

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” 1 Peter 4:12. Trials are tests of character, tests to see if we can stand up to the pressure and stress. Satan can’t destroy us but we can be tempted to respond negatively in the ways listed below that can many times lead to depression, anxiety and defeat and eventually destroying ourselves.

• Self-pity. “Poor me. Why does everything happen to me?”
• Anger, resentment or bitterness toward God and others. “I have a right to be angry because they did this to me!”
• Blaming others or our circumstances. “It’s their fault.”
• Condemning ourselves. “I’m useless. I always fail. It’s always my fault.”
• Fear. “If God has allowed this to happen, what else might He allow? So I’d better not be too aggressive as a Christian, then the devil might leave me alone.”
• Despair. “God has abandoned me and no one understands or wants to help me.”
• Resignation. “I give up. There is nothing I can do.

By the power of God, He has given us resilience and it is up to us to build upon it. Resilience is the ability to respond well to suffering and adversity. Resilience is the ability to endure adversity, go through it, recover and grow closer to God through the process.

Here are 4 areas to build resiliency and strengthen the muscles so that we can respond well, steer through adversity and bounce back.

How do we build resilience? When we know that we won’t be destroyed by the adversity, we’ll be much more at peace in the midst of the storms. We will also be more comfortable with risk and uncertainty, and will likely be more joyful and effective in our lives despite the many challenges we will inevitably face.

We can grow in resilience by changing our inward responses by replacing lies with truth in these four areas:

• Accept our identity in Christ
• See true perspective
• Have faith
• Take responsibility

Accept Our Identity in Christ

The lie says, “I have failed. I am a failure.” This condemnation is always echoed by the devil’s voice internally and sometimes by the voices of other people around us. The truth, however, says, “I have failed. But I am in Christ and, by His grace, I will overcome!”

See True Perspective

The lie says, “What just happened is huge. It is the end of the world. Things are hopeless!” The truth says, “What just happened is bad but, in reality, it’s only a small thing. It’s not the end of the world. And, from the perspective of eternity, it’s nothing!”

To endure well, with God’s help, we must see things as they really are. Without seeing things from God’s perspective we will be crushed by adversity. But when we inwardly choose to turn to Him and see the bigger picture and the eternal reality, we will be able to endure well.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:16-18

Have Faith

The lie says, “This bad thing will never change and will only get worse.” This is unbelief and fear which, left unchecked, will destroy us. In contrast, the truth says, “God can do all things. There is nothing too hard for Him!”

Again, we must turn our inward gaze directly toward God and His ability and faithfulness.

For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” Deuteronomy 20:4

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrew 13:5-6

Take Responsibility

In response to adversity, the lie says, ““I can’t do anything about this.” In contrast, the truth says, “I may not be able to change everything, but here’s what I can do about this.” Even if it’s only a small thing at the time, internally taking responsibility, rather than simply resigning in despair, is the path of healthy thinking. Perhaps the very first thing you can do is to bless and do good to those who may be creating the stress for you.

Don’t be passive. Don’t withdraw. Take responsibility. Act. Move ahead in some way.

Focus on what matters

Everyone will volunteer their opinion, but what is God saying to you? What business strategy do you know is your next step? “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame” (Isaiah 50:7).

Embrace change

Changing things grow. If you’re not changing, you’re not growing. Stretch beyond where you are now so you can grow where you need to go. “Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out” (Romans 12:1-2, The Message Bible).

Know what you can control

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Find support

We are never meant to do it alone. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

 

Wherever you are in your life, use the season of adversity to build resilience and grow exponentially. Today is a new day. You can grow. You can change. Start now!

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