Using my One Word for 2025, resilience, as a jumping off point, I realized that some of the lessons I may learn this year will be through trials that are more personal than I will want to share here. Having that as a reference point, I decided to check out some synonyms for resilience.
Here are a few that I have found:
Strength
Persistence
Tenacity
Potency
Perseverance
Power
Stubbornness
Elasticity
Adaptability
Fortitude
We are only halfway through the month of January, but I have had a few opportunities to practice resilience in things that have been hard to go through. God has been gracious to bring me through each one.
Truthfulness is something that is essential in any relationship, but especially in a relationship between Christians. Situation ethics shouldn't be a part of our DNA as a Christian. When these things take place it's time to set some boundaries. Life is real, my friends, and things like this do happen. The lesson in resilience that I have learned through these particular instances has to do with the synonym "strength" and although it isn't a synonym for resilience, "weakness" or "weak" definitely fits in these circumstances.
You see, I am learning firsthand 2 Corinthians 12:9, "And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."
Resilience isn't about my strength. It's about His strength, my weakness, and my dependence on HIM and His strength.
God shapes us by what He allows for us to go through. Your word for this year is already making a difference in your life.
ReplyDeleteYes, He does, my friend. Remembering His Sovereignty brings calmness and peace in the middle of the trials.
DeleteI am praying for you in your unspoken need.. God knows! Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. God equips us with the strength to endure and remain resilient and it is perfectly ok to set healthy boundaries. Big hugs to you
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shug, for your kindness. Yes, He certainly does. Philippians 4:13 is a special verse to me because the Lord used it through a piece of scroll work that my husband did for me during a rough time. Thank you for the hugs, my friend.
DeleteSanctification is ongoing and we can never retire but we keep learning in mild ways and very difficult ways, too. God works through us and upon us whatever He wants. I know you know that. Resilience is something that goes along with Sanctification well. Praying right now for His joy in the midst for you, too. I turned my head around to look on our book shelves and there is the Boundaries book that you are reading. I wish I would have put a date in all the books to be able to see when I first read them. :) Good for you for learning how to do things with your phone. I have not attempted to do that.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Ellen, for your prayers. His joy is truly in the midst of the ways He chooses to strengthen in my weakness. I probably wouldn't have tried to do things with the blog on my phone if it hadn't been for the fact that our desktop computer was throwing a fit. lol. The computer is still my favorite way, but in a pinch, I now know that I can do things from my phone.
DeleteI'm sorry for the issue you've been dealing with and am praying. Thank you for sharing those comforting verses and lessons learned in hard times. We do draw close to the Lord in these times and looking back, I always see things I learned, but it's surely not easy.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mari. It was an ongoing thing for several months and I'm thankful to be on "the other side" of it. I am thankful for the lessons that I've learned through it all...especially that resilience isn't about my strength but it's about HIS.
DeleteI hesitate to say I'm sorry you have had those experiences this year already, but only because you mentioned that you are thankful for the lessons learned. I am glad you are 'on the other side' of it.
ReplyDeleteStay warm and safe in all that snow you have.