Posted: 12 November 2024

From a sermon given on 10 November 2024:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
(2 Corinthians 4:7-10)

"The concept of resilience is complex, yet simple. It is as simple as the metaphor of a rubber band. Rubber bands like people, come in different sizes and are subjected to different challenges. They also have different thickness and the ability to stretch - shorter or longer." (Patricia Morgan - Solutions for Resilience)

Struggles will always be part and parcel of the Christian journey. Paul narrates a host of challenges that he had gone through that had the potential of knocking him off balance. But by God's grace he came out victoriously. At the end of it all, Paul declares, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. (2Timothy 4: 7). He was able to withstand all the challenges that came his way.

Christian friends, we become stronger and resilient after being stretched. We must by all means avoid being rigid and allow ourselves room for flexibility within the changing times and seasons of our lives. We must develop the capacity to face and overcome crisis without blowing our minds or even breaking our hearts. By God's coping grace, we will withstand and overcome all the challenges that will come our way

Further readings:

And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
(Genesis 45:7-8)

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
(Ruth 1:16)

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
(Job 1:21)