RESILIENT

As I sat in solitude at a picnic table, with this view of a lake before me, God used some geese to capture my attention.

 

 

~At first, I observed the geese in the water floating around controlled by the buoyancy of the water.

 

 

~These same geese, a few minutes later, came to the shore and waddled onto dry ground, looking for some food to feast on.  I was watching them for a long time, taking many pictures as they were wandering around.

 

 

 

~After getting their fill, they took to the air flying with two other geese in different formations high in the sky and talking with each other.

 

While watching the geese, I thought about how God made them “resilient” so they adapt easily to the different environments.  To me, the term resilient means being flexible, adapting to different situations, and even hardships in our lives.  I believe when we are resilient, we are also open to continual change.

 

I believe God was showing me how good it is to be resilient, just as the geese are.

How important it is to adapt to whatever life hands us, rebounding, and making the best of life.

 

 

Who is a great example, from the Bible, of someone being resilient?

Paul!  He was the man formerly known as Saul before his encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus.  (Acts 9)

He was a man who went from being one of the worst persecutors of Christians to being the chief preacher to the Gentiles.  God used Paul to preach the Good News of Jesus to the first Gentiles, allowing salvation to ALL people.  Read the Acts of the Apostles, and you will find many stories from Paul’s life where he was resilient.

 

 

Paul, in his travels, was often beaten and suffered persecution for preaching the Good News.  His resiliency caused him to continue to carry on despite the hardships.

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.  But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.  –Acts 14:19-20  (ESV)

 

Paul was continuously preaching from town to town as he shared the gospel. He first shared with the Jewish people, but when he ran into opposition, he started sharing the Good News with the Gentiles.  He was resilient enough to keep sharing with those that would listen and come to know Christ.

When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.  But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”  –Acts 18:5-6  (NIV)

 

Paul was continuously following God’s will in his life and was willing to sacrifice his life for the cause of spreading the gospel.  He was resilient enough to do whatever it took to follow God.

When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.  Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”  And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”  –Acts 21:12-14  (ESV)

 

Why was Paul able to be so resilient while he was on this earth?

~Paul came to know that God is sovereign.

~Paul knew he was safe in God’s hands, who works everything out for our good.

~Paul knew that God provides all he needed, even with the many hardships he endured.

~Paul knew he could trust God completely.

 

As we walk this earth, can we, too, strive to follow Paul’s example of being resilient?  No matter what happens, can we be resilient, knowing God is sovereign?

May reflecting on the reasons Paul was able to be so resilient in his life make us realize those same principles apply to our lives, too!

We need to trust God with everything that happens in our life!

 

A black squirrel

Some unique vines growing amidst the tree

 

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.  –2 Corinthians 4:8-9  (ESV)

 “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)