Resilience

What is resilience?

Resilience is defined as, “The process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or even significant sources of threat” (Violanti, 2021, p. 96)

Each individual person by nature has their own standard of resilience that has been formed by their upbringing, life challenges, and capacity to learn new strategies. There are numerous books on resilience and how to build that within one’s life. When we discuss resilience, often we think that it is something new. Although, sometimes we overlook the foundational piece.

Looking to Scripture we see numerous individuals that demonstrated resilience such as Abraham, Joseph, King David, Job, Paul, the disciples, and of course, Jesus. Each had three things in common, they were:

·      Internally focused

·      Purpose driven

·      Faced adversity

Why are these three factors important? Well, it established our capacity to endure life. Each of these components build off each other. When we are internally focused, you know and understand your purpose in life, when you know and understand your purpose in life you are able to face adversity.

Take Paul for example. Paul had been beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, in constant danger, imprisoned, and frequently near death (English Standard Version, 2 Corinthians
11:21-29).

Throughout all the adversity Paul faced, he learned to be content in all circumstances because he was internally focused, purpose driven, and faced adversity:

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (English Standard Version, Philippians 4:11-13).

 Find your internal focus, know your purpose, and face adversity.