Our truest source of resilience
I received a video the other day. It was entitled "Coping During Covid: Context & Strategies for Supporting Resilience." I confess I was a little leery about its contents, expecting a rehash of some very contemporary perspectives. I hit start anyway and quickly found that my concerns were justified.
There is no doubt the panel members were genuinely concerned about personal well-being because they immediately began by affirming their awareness of all the things people might be dealing with: “fear, restlessness, sleep disturbance, change in appetite, irritability, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, back pain, difficulty with memory, brain fog, and a lack of focus.” I let it run for another minute or so and knew I’d be frustrated if I went any further.
Once I stopped shaking my head, I actually began to rejoice, with a smile on my face. And then quieted my heart for a moment, to let the Lord know how much I appreciated our relationship. He had long ago convinced me that perfect love (the love that He has for me and me for Him) does, indeed, cast out all fear (1 Jn 4:18).
And then I began to thank Him for all that He has taught me over the years, especially how to think and act and speak during times like this. These words of Paul came to mind quickly:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7).
I’ve also been focusing on something else that Paul wrote as a description of his method of “destroying fortresses,” which in this moment, I liken to the worldly thinking that we are so frequently being confronted with these days. He wrote:
… for the weapons of our warfare are not of flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:4-5).
The video speaks of resilience. A quick definition is “the ability to mentally or emotionally cope with a crisis or to return to pre-crisis status quickly.” Our resilience is definitely tied to how we think (see Prov. 23:7). What a great opportunity we Christian leaders have in the midst of this crisis to encourage those who are struggling to draw closer to the only One who can actually guard, protect, and enrich our minds (see Phil. 4:7).
Finally, brethren, whatever it is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard … practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you (Phil. 4:8-9).
In times of crisis, I have been trusting in Him for years and it has been just as “the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed'" (Rom. 10:11). Not even once!
 | Maurie Daigneau is a retired business owner/entrepreneur and author of the newly-published book The Gospel You've Never Heard: An Understanding That Will Change Your Life. He has been in a personal relationship with the Lord for more than 50 years, and has committed the balance of his days to sharing the lessons he has learned from the only One any of us is to call “Teacher.” Maurie and his wife, Susie, raised five children of their own and are now the proud grandparents of 13. Learn More » |
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