I hope your new year is off to a great start. I’ve shared with many people that 2024 was an incredibly difficult year for me, so I am grateful for the fresh start that a new year brings. I found myself needing to take my own advice about being resilient. The devotional below is from Day 20 of Focused, Purposeful & Bold: 21 Days to Conquering a New Season. It encouraged me to remember seven truths needed to bounce back from adversity. I pray that it encourages you as well. Let me know what you think.
Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:31: “.…If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all—how will he not also along with him, graciously give us all things?”
Romans 8:37: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
This summer, I was on vacation in a picturesque setting with a beach surrounded by turquoise waters and jagged cliffs high above. Because it was high-travel season, tourists like me packed the beach in great numbers. It was crowded, noisy and chaotic. Furthermore, though beautiful, this was no powdery, sandy beach. It was filled with pebbles and rocks that hurt your feet if you walked barefoot on them. I didn’t stay long before I decided to enjoy the view differently. I took several flights of stairs up to the street level, took a bus up the winding roads that climb the cliffs, and arrived at a scenic lookout far above the beach. To my surprise and delight, I enjoyed this view far more than being on the beach below. I gazed at the scene before me and marveled at the crystal clear, blue water, the boats floating in the distance, the colorful beach umbrellas, and the curvy shoreline connected to a tiny island a short distance away.
Life can be like that beach. It can be chaotic, noisy, and uncomfortable at ground level. There can be obstacles that block your path and make your journey painful. To be resilient, you must take a higher view to see the beauty beyond the chaos. Though you are entering a new season, you can anticipate ups and downs, disruptions to your plans, and disappointments and frustrations.
Someone once said, “God never promised the Promise Land without obstacles.” Even though your plans have a godly purpose, you are not perfect, nor will your circumstances be perfect. But, you can decide in advance to trust the One who is perfect, and you can decide to be boldly resilient. This means you will not give up on your plans, you will not give up on your purpose, you will not give up on yourself, and most importantly, you will not give up on God. You can determine that you will encompass the definition of resilience, which is to bounce back from your setbacks. To be resilient, you must take a higher view above your circumstances. Bouncing back is not always easy, and it’s not necessarily quick, but it is possible when you allow God to show you the beauty of His vantage point.
Here are seven truths to prepare you to be boldly resilient as you enter a new season and face unexpected circumstances.
1. Remember whom you belong to.
Romans 8:15–16: “…and by [the Spirit] we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
2. Remember that God does not stop helping us and giving to us.
Romans 8:31: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all—how will he not also along with him give us all things.”
3. Remember that we may not immediately see or understand it, but God is purposeful.
Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
4. Take comfort that you are known and seen.
Psalm 31:7: “I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.”
5. Take time to recover from your setback, but at the right time, move forward.
Psalm 37:23–24: “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”
6. Remember that God is still working in and through you to accomplish great things.
Philippians 1:6: “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
7. Be confident that, ultimately, you will conquer your setbacks and circumstances.
Romans 8:37: “…in all these things we are more than conquerors.”
The key to being boldly resilient is an unwavering confidence in God’s absolute faithfulness. Expect Him to show up, restore you, strengthen you, and help you accomplish exponentially more than you could without Him.
Questions for Reflection
– Do you have more confidence in yourself or God?
– How do you recognize when you lack confidence in God?
– What is your bounce-back strategy for your new season?
Scriptures for Further Study & Reflection
– Romans 8:1–39
– Philippians 1:6; 12–20
– Psalm 31:1–24
Want More Inspiration?
Grab a copy of the devotional, Focused, Purposeful & Bold: 21 Days to Conquering a New Season.
In addition, there’s an accompanying workbook, the Focused, Purposeful & Bold Planning Workbook and Journal .
