Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. I Corinthians 15:58. ESV.
This past weekend I had an amazing opportunity to attend a unique experience called Summer Camp for Adults, 2026! Years ago my Rosanna and her husband Andrew were Youth Pastors. One of their duties was to develop a summer camp program for their youth. A pastor friend mentioned maybe they need to develop a summer camp for adults! God used that word to motivate them and their church to put on SC2026.
They asked me if I wanted to join them back at Thanksgiving or before. As an older adult, I was a bit hesitant, but decided to go for it. As they planned the games and involvement they took folks like me into consideration. They placed us into teams. Each team developed their name and identity as we entered into the different contests and games. The goal was to develop camaraderie. It was cold (summer camp in February?), it was challenging and it was fun.
People were scheduled to arrive at the camp lodge at 4:00. Settling in, meeting new people and then we left for dinner in the camp dining room. We ate with our new teammates, picked a team leader and wrote our new team name on our team flag. Then off to encounter Jesus at our first service. Pastor Andrew preached on surrender. It was powerful and encouraging. The Lord spoke two words to me, as I prayed and worshiped. Perseverance and Resiliency. It is what we need to accomplish his call and purpose.
After that meeting, I needed to get something from my car. I was a bit nervous because I wasn’t sure if I could handle the unknown, upcoming activities. The Holy Spirit quietly whispered to me: Don’t focus on what you can’t do, focus on what you can. I squared my shoulders and thought, I am going to do everything that I can with joy and enthusiasm. Graciously they planned for us “seniors”. They did it in a way that we could still add to our team without potentially causing damage! God is like that, He knows our frame and what we can handle.
Resiliency is the capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties. It is a toughness to bounce back into shape. My friends, life is difficult. It can be hard. When I needed a bout of physical therapy I learned to keep doing the reps they suggested, even when I wanted to stop. My knee grew stronger and became more resilient the more I did them. God wants us to grow up and develop resilience in our spirits, where we can develop more trust in Him and His ways.
Resilience also involves the ability to adapt to new situations. We do not have to deny the hard places or pretend we are not affected by them. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 some encouraging truth. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed. He was encouraging the church at Corinth (and us!) to keep going. Perseverance is definitely needed to make it through trials. But once you get through them, we need resilience to bounce back and keep going. Sometimes, that is the more difficult time. The first diagnosis hits hard, you get through it. If it comes back, that is even harder. But God is the same God, yesterday, today and forever. His help is available when we rely on Him and His ways.
Developing resilience means we develop faith and trust in Him and His ways–even when we don’t understand or things don’t turn out like we want them to. Learning to believe his ways are higher than our ways brings hope when we want to feel hopeless. Before I went to camp I had been fighting illness. I almost backed out, but felt God wanted me there. It was a fight to rely on His strength, not my own. By the time we got there, I was amazed at how strong I felt. Saturday morning my devotional included Psalm 23:3 in the NLT says: He renews my strength. I claimed that for the rest of the weekend. To my surprise, the speaker for the Saturday morning service, taught out of Psalm 23! Her focus was on dependency on the Lord. My friends, we will never develop resilience and perseverance unless we let go of our strength and begin to trust His.
This final word of encouragement comes from James. Remember, the race we are asked to run here on earth will come to an end. There is a prize when our race is finished. Do not grow weary in well doing my friends, but ask Him to teach you how to become more resilient.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12. ESV.
Father, I thank you for helping us develop resiliency. Teach us how to adapt to changes, those we ask for and those we don’t. Thank you that you know everything that touches our lives and you want to use it for our good and your glory. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Faith Encounters 