New Reminders: Resilience
by Ardith Hoff
Resilience is the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties or the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape. The literal definition of the word resilient means “to bounce back". The word is associated with withstanding shock, returning to form, maintaining strength, and not giving up after an accident, disappointment or loss. It takes resilience to recover from a flood or fire that has damaged or destroyed a home. How quickly we can recover from a major illness, accident or other difficulty is, a measure of our resilience. It requires mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.
According to writers for Mayo Clinic: “Resilience means being able to cope with tough events. When something bad happens, you still feel anger, grief and pain. But you're able to keep going, both physically and psychologically. Resilience isn't about putting up with something tough or coping on our own. In fact, being able to reach out to others for support is a key part of being resilient.”
It is important to get on with life and to make every day meaningful. For some people, that might mean finding something important to do like preserving whatever can be salvaged from a wreckage, replacing documents or starting the process to collect insurance or to repair or replace what has been lost. In the case of a death, it means making the necessary notifications and making the changes required. Keeping busy, and taking care of whatever has to be done, helps us move forward and gives us a sense of accomplishment. We need to learn from the past to help us realize that we have recovered from other difficulties and will make it through the present one also. We need to reach out to others for help and comfort. We need to take care of ourselves, making sure we get good nutrition, plenty of exercise and adequate sleep. If professional help is needed, we need to avail ourselves of whatever help is available
Scriptures for strength during difficult times show us that trials come to make us strong. God gives us challenges to remind us that our strength and willpower are finite. Bible verses about resilience remind us that we cannot take on these trials alone. God allows for such trials to teach us to rely on Him for strength, wisdom, direction, comfort and everything else in between.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12. “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:4