Revival and Resilience
By Doug Bing, Washington Conference president
What inspires you? A great story? A Bible verse? Watching the underdog win?
A few months ago I was out walking this very long and steep hill close to our house. It is a hill that literally takes my breath away when I am climbing up the hill. Many people from the neighborhood go out to climb this hill as there is a very wide paved foot path that has been installed. It is great exercise.
It was on that hill that I witnessed something that was inspiring to me. As I was climbing the hill I noticed up ahead a man in a wheel chair.
He was alone and just sitting by the path. He sat there for a short time and then with determination he turned that wheel chair up that hill and started to turn those wheels with all his might.
He went for about 100 feet then stopped and rested and then started all over again. He was determined and he was resilient and resolute in his goal of reaching the top of the hill. I passed him on the way up while he was on one of his rest periods. At other times I have seen him victorious at the top of the hill.
When I think about this man pushing himself to the top of the hill in his daily workout it certainly is inspiring and revives in me that I can certainly make it to the top even with while being out of breath.
Two theme words are emerging for 2021: Revival and Resilience.
Revival comes from a daily walk with Jesus. Each time we think of all that Jesus went through in the struggle against the evil one, it can revive us again that we have a great help in our own struggles. Revival comes from a complete focus on Jesus and spending time each day with Him and basking in His complete salvation that gives us strength to move forward in life’s struggles.
Revival by daily focus on Jesus leads to the resilience that Jesus gives us to be victorious in this life.
Paul, who always focused on preaching about Jesus, said these words in II Timothy 4:7,8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
In our virtual pastors' meeting this week, we learned some lessons on revival and resiliency from Pastor Lee Venden and from Pastor Barry and Becky Curtis (from Take Courage Coaching - read their story!). A few highlights:
- Daily nurture your spiritual life with Bible study to get to know Jesus, prayer for communion, and acts of sharing about Jesus.
- When facing tragedy or a difficult experience, list what went well. Train your brain to look for the good stuff (this is called neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience or following injury).
- Take one step at a time, one breath at a time. Feel the reality of the situation, but don't stay there. Let Jesus show up. Listen to His promises. Acknowledge the realness of God. Jesus is our "mirror box" and we can have faith in suffering.
(Need help with chronic pain? Connect with a Take Courage Coach.)