Life is filled with setbacks, challenges, disappointments, and failures that can make us question whether we have the strength to keep going. The world tells us to move on or power through, but what if perseverance is about something deeper? What if the sufferings we face are not just difficulties to endure, but tools that can shape us into who we were meant to be? The difference between failure and greatness, defeat and transformation, is not talent, intelligence, or even opportunity … it’s the ability to press forward when everything inside us wants to quit.

But how do we persevere when we feel weak? How do we stand firm when circumstances threaten to shake our faith? Scripture offers a perspective that goes beyond self-determination and bootstrapped fortitude – it reveals the strength, purpose, and reward found in rooting our identity and vigor in the very One who designed us to flourish. The answers we often long for in times of struggle are closer than we think, and they have the power to change the way we face hardship forever.

#Resilient #Perseverance #Hardwork #Diligence #Dependance

Life is full of unexpected challenges - circumstances we never chose, but must somehow navigate. When difficulties arise, where do we turn? Everyone needs a safe place - a refuge where we can be honest about our struggles, find encouragement, and regain strength to move forward. But what makes any place truly safe? And how do we find one that doesn’t just offer temporary relief, but truly helps us grow stronger in the midst of life’s hardships?

There’s a way to face life’s hardships without being crushed by them. Discover the power of having a space where we are seen, known, and strengthened - where faith deepens, hope is renewed, Jesus is found, and resilience takes root. The right safe place can change everything, giving us the courage to step forward no matter what challenges come our way.

#Resilient #SafePlace #Community #HealthyRelationships

If recent events have taught us anything, one clear lesson is that frustration and negativity come readily enough - but what if a simple (though not easy) perspective shift had the power to change everything? Choosing thankfulness over complaining isn’t just a mindset shift … it’s a spiritual renovation that brings peace, joy, and a deeper trust in God. 

Even in life’s hardest moments, there’s a way to see His hand at work and to respond with faith instead of frustration, grumbling, or complaining. We can step into an approach to life that transforms burdens into blessings and everyday struggles into opportunities for grace and growth - but it won't happen by accident! 

#Resilient #NoGriping #NoComplaining #Gratitude #Thankfulness

All of us experience pain and heartache - it’s a universal condition of the human race. At times, it's simply the brokenness and fragility of the world that brings tragedy. At other points, it’s the cruelty, indifference, or mistakes of others that wound us. And the more and more this happens, the more and more bitterness takes seat in our hearts.

Even so, we were never designed to bear the weight of suffering, either the initial act or the malingering, festering results of holding on to these injustices. We do not (and should not) excuse, ignore, or explain away the wrongs done to us. Rather we need to find a way to face them while not becoming enslaved to them. And God has let us know just the path we need to walk - but it is not an easy one!

#Resilient #OfferForgiveness #Freedom

One of the most basic, fundamental questions humanity asks is "Why?" From the minor & inconsequential to the most weighty of issues, we question the purpose in so much of life. We want to know the reasons behind decisions, actions, and circumstances. This is both good and hardwired in our very nature.

When things are bad, though, this can be especially daunting. We often feel like there can be no good or right or beneficial purpose to the less-than-good stuff that happens. This, too, is both understandable and comes from a good place. Evil should NOT  exist. Death is NOT supposed to be here. Suffering is NOT part of our design. But since evil, death, and suffering ARE all part of this life, there is a remarkable truth that there can still be purpose and meaning found DESPITE that reality. And that can be found in the most beautiful of places.

#Resilient #FindMeaning #PurposeInPain

Life has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way - disappointments, setbacks, tragedies, and struggles that can all feel overwhelming. Too often, we either bottle up our emotions until they explode or act like nothing is wrong … only to feel lost, adrift, and alone. But what if there was a way to navigate these moments with authenticity, actually acknowledging even life’s most bitter challenges rather than putting on a mask and pretending like everything is OK?

There are powerful truths that can transform how we face hardship. It is possible to express our brokenness in ways that heal rather than harm, to name our pain without giving ourselves into the gloom of hopelessness. How things are is not how they were designed, and a foundational step to finding our way back into that design is admitting that we’re not already there.

#Resilient #ExpressIt

We all love a good story. We read books, go to movies, and watch shows that tell us tales of adventure and intrigue and excitement. And the thing about stories is that they're only good if there's a problem, something to resolve or overcome. We love the hero, but every hero needs a villain. We tend towards these stories because we can vicariously join in the victory without the cost of the struggle. 

Real life, though, is different. It isn't a neatly crafted narrative where the good guys always win and the calamity is avoided in an episode or a quick series. In reality, we all have to face hardship, pain, suffering, and grief … and it takes something special to navigate these treacherous waters: a resilient faith. And it's way more than just gritting our teeth and bearing it. 

#Resilient #Strength #Love

“I don’t believe you.” That can be one of the hardest things we can hear from another person, especially when they matter to us. We instinctively want others to trust us, to count on our words to be viewed as containers of truth. When that belief is compromised, relationships suffer. But belief is more than just trust in the trustworthiness of another.

On a deep level, what we believe about the world shapes every decision we make, every emotion that we feel, and even every thought we think. Because of this, if our beliefs are not rooted in reality, in “true truth” as it were, our lives will invariably face turmoil and dissonance. Part of being a community that is resilient in the face of great difficulty is being a place where we’re all called to experience, wrestle with, and ultimately embrace the truest of truths. And, for Jesus-following people, this starts with the One whose name we bear.

#Resilient #BELIEVE

The world we live in is tough - there’s no denying that! But what makes the difference between navigating those difficulties and succumbing to them? Resilience - which is about developing the strength to endure challenges and return stronger, especially in matters of faith.

A resilient faith thrives in a community where genuine belonging, love, and support are present. It’s not just about holding the right beliefs but also actively living them out in relationships and within the culture, demonstrating truth and love in harmony. This kind of faith transforms lives and inspires others to experience help, hope, healing, and connection through shared purpose and intentional care.

#Resilient #BELONG