Resiliency is a characteristic many of us tend to admire in others. But at the same time, it’s probably pretty safe to assume that none of us are asking for trials in our lives to help us develop more resiliency, right? We’re not actively seeking out situations where things don’t turn out according to plan.  

Our life group (through our church) is doing a book study called “If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat” (John Ortberg) and it talks about how we react to adversity. We typically respond in one of two ways. Some are simply defeated while others are marked by resiliency, a condition where one’s capacity to handle issues is actually enlarged, and in the end they now only survive but grow (The picture of the flower breaking through the cracked and hard-packed ground is a great illustration of this.)

Like me, you may wonder what makes the difference. Here are a few cammon themes that describe resilient people:

-resilient people don’t see themselves as passive victims; they refuse to quit and set into motion without the development of their potential, the deepening of their faith and endurance 

-resilient people stay committed to their values; they know that temptation is strongest when they are in the valley facing problems and discouragement

-resilient people insist on finding purpose and meaning in their suffering; they know that facing and solving problems brings meaning to their lives and helps them grow

We may be inclined to believe that these characteristics of resilient people are simply the result of having a strong character, but the author points out that each of these qualities actually come from a deep dependence on God.  

For the believer, this can be so hard to articulate to others. I know that seeking God and putting my full trust in him is what has helped me most in challenging times. In many ways it feels like an act of surrender to let go of what we cannot control. Probably because that’s indeed what it is. But God is faithful and I know that he has a plan and a purpose in everything we encounter. Bad news will not get the last word. It will not separate us from God. Rather, it will draw us closer to him and we will be stronger and more resilient as a result.