I’ve always wondered why and how some people thrive in situations where others just cannot tolerate them. Would I be able to survive if I were to encounter such situations on my own? While some may call these ‘chance’ events (as per Psychologist Krumbolt’s Happenstance theory) in our lives, I try to see them as blessings from the good hand of God. The answer is in Christ Jesus!
My family and I grew up through crisis, which is probably why my siblings and I are closely knit, and today, we are further bonded in Christ. I vividly recalled that fateful day when my father suffered a heart attack and passed away at his workplace. None of us got to bid him farewell. My world crumpled - I was just turning 11, with my two younger sisters only 5 and 6 years old. Both my mother and brother were in utter shock. My mother, a young uneducated widow at 36, somehow managed to hold the fort. Even at my tender age, I realized that women are made of something remarkably resilient. To my fellow ladies reading this at the Ladies’ Corner: we all juggle multiple roles - be it as a Christian, daughter/daughter-in-law, sister, wife, mother/mother-in-law, aunty, employer and employee. Isn’t it amazing? These roles come with diverse challenges, and the probability of facing obstacles, trials, or hardships is undoubtedly higher. Yet through it all, we must lean on the good hand of our God. Time and again, I have experienced His providence – through childhood crises and the countless moments since. I am sure you too have your own stories of trials overcome and blessings enjoyed. Let us remember these blessings – they are the reminders that will keep us going till the end …
I spent more than 25 years in the banking industry and had witnessed several recessionary cycles, and each time, during tough economic conditions, my bosses pushed us to be resilient. We were expected to bounce back regardless of the challenges - be it the Asian Currency crisis (1997-98), the Dot-com bubble recession (2001), the Global Financial Crisis (2007-09), or the most recent Covid-19 recession. The pandemic, with its unprecedented lockdowns and sudden halt to economic activities, remains fresh in our memories. Yet, through it all, we have survived - by the good hand of our God!
During 2020, I attended many lunch meetings organized by my company on resilience, providing us with tools to cope with the Covid-19 recession. But what is resilience, really? Simply put, it is the ability to bounce back from adversity and crisis. In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, I often think to myself: How do we persevere? If not for the good hand of God, I might have drowned deep in the ocean of nowhere, lost in depths of despair. But here am I, writing this article to encourage myself and the sisters at the Ladies’ corner to remember and see the good hand of God! It reminds me about Nehemiah, who had the ability to see the good hand of God (Nehemiah 2:8,18).
I often ask myself: How can we stay resilient in the faith? Here are just a few thoughts – not an exhaustive list, but points to consider:
Firstly, keep praying, learning and reflecting – embrace learning and remember the good hand of God! When you keep learning and reading God’s words, you are reminded to remain in God’s words. He is our Saviour and will rescue us. One verse I often remind myself of is Psalms 94:18-19 (particularly the NKJV version) - “If I say, “my foot slips” - Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.”
When we keep learning the Word of God, we bind it in our hearts, and it helps us stay afloat amidst life’s stormy seas.
Secondly, gratitude is a powerful tool. I’m grateful to God for being alive, for waking up each morning, and for completing this article. Remaining grateful helps us to stay resilient despite any situations. There is this Chinese proverb that reminds me to “reflect and remember the source when we drink water” (饮水思源). Gratitude reminds us of God’s goodness, even in tough times. Keeping a thankful heart shifts our focus from difficulties to blessings, helping us bounce back to God. Gratitude strengthens resilience, enabling us to face trials with our hearts anchored in His love.
Thirdly, remain hopeful while preparing for life’s challenges. Faith is precious yet vulnerable, constantly under attack by dark forces, often personified as a lion pacing around and about us. This enemy lurks around us like a roaring lion, ready to eat us up anytime and anywhere (1 Peter 5:8). To be resilient, we must guard our faith, stay vigilant and remain hopeful.
Finally, resilience involves seeing blessings in all circumstances - looking beyond the surface through the eyes of faith, whether in life’s storms or during the ordinary day-to-day. Seizing opportunities to learn and thrive plants the budding roots of resilience and progresses to the search of a maturing faith. Trust God that we can overcome! I learn from a motivational guru that we need to live more, love much and laugh often despite whatever that befalls us.
There are many examples of resilient faith such as shown in Job, Abraham, Joseph and Queen Esther etc. Let me just feature on Queen Esther here, as this article is for the ladies’ corner.
What happened to the Jews in the book of Esther? Due to Haman’s evil doing, the Jews faced imminent destruction and death. Esther was initially distressed and fearful of appearing uninvited before the King, risking her life (Esther 4:11). But she was reminded of her gratitude to God, her adoptive father Mordecai, and her connection to her people. Esther responded with courage, resilience and faith, calling for fasting and prayers (Esther 4:16). Her boldness and trust saved her people – to God be the glory!
It is easy to go through these readings for our learning, but realistically, living them is another story! Yet I firmly believe it is far worse to leave God behind. Staying with God is always the better option! Let us encourage ourselves never to give up God for anything.
Building resilience with God’s strengths is critical to weather the storms of life. At times, we simply need to rest on God’s goodness and wait upon the LORD (Isaiah 40:31), then be renewed, emerging again with resilience in faith!
Let us remain steadfast, building resilience in faith, trusting that God will see us through every storm!
"Thou art My Hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah …" (Psalm 32:7-8)
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