“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (NLT)
The worst time in my life was during treatments for breast cancer. I counted the days until I finished the treatments and returned to my life before cancer.
Later, I realized my life changed permanently. Fear of death and yearning for my old life consumed me and sent me into a downward spiral of depression.
Rather than seeking professional help, I turned to alcohol to cope because I had no resilience.
In our key verse, Jesus assured His disciples, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world” John 16:33 (NLT).
We all experience life’s trials and sorrows such as stressful situations, chronic diseases, natural disasters, and life altering events like divorce and the death of loved ones.
But no one endured more suffering and distress than Jesus. Just think about it—the Son of God humbled himself by becoming a human, but was still a deity who endured all the frailties of a human body.
In addition, Jesus was rejected by his family, and one of his followers betrayed him. He endured hatred from many of His own people, and then endured physical, emotional, and spiritual agony on the cross.
So then, how can we manage our pain and suffering and still find peace? Learn the secrets of resilience from Jesus.
What is resilience?
According to the American Psychological Association, resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.
It’s having the flexibility to endure stressful situations, withstand adversity, and bounce back.
Learn the secrets of resilience from Jesus
How do you handle stressful situations and adversity like Jesus?
Remember who I am
In the Old Testament, God told Moses, “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14).
Jesus knew exactly who He was. In the seven powerful “I AM” statements in the book of John, Jesus identifies himself as God, the provider of all things.
Here are the seven “I AM” statements:
- “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51).
- “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
- “I am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:7, 9).
- “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11,14).
- “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
- “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
- “I am the true vine” (John 15:1).
So, always remember how God sees you as a work of art, a priceless treasure, and a child of God created in His image.
Remember who I am trying to please
Jesus understood His mission and calling given to Him by God the Father. Jesus’ only desire was to please God (John 5:30).
As a servant of Christ, remember to seek God’s approval rather than trying to please people (Galatians 1:10).
Spend time alone with God in prayer
Jesus escaped the crowds often to find solitude to pray and seek guidance from His Father (Mark 1:35, Luke 4:42, Luke 5:15-16). Regularly seeking solitude and a quiet prayer time is essential for a relationship with Jesus.
I understand it’s not always easy to find the time. I love the story of Susanna Wesley, mother of John Wesley, theologian, and founder of the Methodist Church. With a house full of children, Susanna struggled to find moments of solitude for prayer. To signal the children not to bother her, she would sit on the porch and cover her head with her apron while praying.
Conclusion
Fifteen years ago, I found sobriety through God’s love, lots of prayer, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Christian counseling. I strive to avoid people pleasing and only want to please God. I now know who I am, not just a cancer survivor but a beloved child of God.
How do the secrets of resilience from Jesus compare to those of the world? The world says be tough, don’t give up, work through it by tapping into your inner strength.
However, when we practice the secrets of resilience from Jesus, we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, not our own. And we experience more faith, trust, and peace.
Final word
But wait! There’s more! There are too many secrets of resilience from Jesus to cover in just one post, so read Part 2 here.
