The worst time in my life was during treatments for breast cancer. At first, I fought hard to beat the disease, but the side effects of chemotherapy crushed my spirit. I counted the days until I finished the treatments and returned to my life before cancer. Later, I realized my life changed permanently. I was a cancer survivor. 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.
What is resilience and why is faith necessary for resilience?
Definition of resilience
Resilience is willingness to adapt and accept new challenges, optimism for the future, and a healthy mindset to push through when life is difficult.
In a previous post, I considered how to stay young and healthy at any age. Resilience is another trait to help us do that.
Scales to measure resilience evaluate these characteristics: optimism, belief in self, control of self, willingness to adapt, willingness to be flexible, the ability to solve problems, emotional awareness, social support, and a sense of humor.
How do we develop resilience? There are many ways. In fact, here is a list of 20 ways to build resilience. Examples include volunteering, having a life purpose, being kind to yourself, and sleeping at least 7-8 hours a night.
All these things are good. However, number twenty on the list is “nurture your spirituality and make time to integrate it into your life.” Number twenty should be number one! In fact, scripture teaches us a lot about faith and resilience.
Build a firm foundation
Beach houses on stilts sway in the wind because they are built on sand and do not have a solid foundation. The foundation determines the ability of a house to withstand wind, rain, and floods.
In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus presented the choices of building a house on the sand or the rock. He warned us not to be foolish and build our houses on the sand because “the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:27 ESV).
Instead, be like the wise man and build our houses on the rock. Because “the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because they had founded it on the rock” (Matthew 7:25 ESV).
When we build our lives on the firm foundation of Jesus, the cornerstone (Matthew 21:42), and His truth, He promises to protect us and give us peace (John 14:27). The storms of life may buffet us, but will not destroy us.
Grow strong roots
Healthy trees with deep roots survive heavy winds, rain, and storms. They are healthy and bear fruit because of access to light and water. If we develop deep roots by spending time with God every day by reading His Word, praying, and worshiping Him, we grow in faith and resilience. Living water, the Gospel of Christ, and Jesus, the light of the world, nourish our lives so we have resilience and strength to handle whatever comes our way.
The Bible says, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7 ESV).
When our roots are in Christ Jesus, our strength comes from Him, not our own power. As Paul wrote, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13 NLT).
Attach to the vine
Branches not attached to the vine will eventually die, but attached branches receive nourishment and guidance to survive from the vine.
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2 ESV).
God is the gardener, and Jesus is the true vine. We are the branches. Branches need guidance on how to grow, be healthy, and produce good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). God prunes the branches to shape and guide their growth. Jesus promises the power of the Holy Spirit to provide guidance to develop faith and resilience. We have the greatest power inside of us from God, the master gardener.
Conclusion
Everyone deals with challenges, traumatic events, life changes, setbacks, or tough experiences in different ways. How do you deal with adversity? If you successfully bounce back, you show resilience, which is vital to overall wellness.
However, sometimes we need help from Christian counselors and pastors to deal with trauma and other extreme circumstances. Please seek help when needed!
Thankfully, I finally joined the recovery group at church, sought a Christian counselor for help for my depression, and got sober at Alcoholics Anonymous. My resilience grew as I continued my journey to trusting God with my life. I stopped mourning my old life and embraced my new life in Christ. However, it is a lifelong effort to stay on the road to recovery and not slip. I can do this only with the power of God.
What about you? How have your struggles developed your faith and resilience? What are some practical steps you can take to trust God’s promises and build resilience?
