If you know me, (my story and my life) like you, I’ve been through a plethora of suffering and trauma! I have not gone through these hardships gracefully. At times I hash it out with people instead of God. I’ve tried to figure out things on my own or use my strength instead of resting in God’s power to try to get through. Recently, as I’ve gone through the worst trauma of my life last year, an encouraging friend spoke over me that resilience depicts my life, which Webster defines as an ability to recover from or adjust easily to adversity, or continual difficulty. In my most recent season of hardship, here are the three needed traits of resiliency I’ve discovered to thrive out of trauma.
- Deeply know God Is with You.
God’s presence is everything. God repeats “I am with you” thirty-six times in the Word. Often it is when He sends someone on a mission or when they’re in a troublesome situation. God is specific how His presence will save you: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.” (Isaiah 43:2 NASB2020) Along with His presence, God promises you that you will not be defeated nor abandoned. Psalmist David gets real in His suffering. He prays the famous prayer: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Notice he describes suffering as “the shadow of death” and not “death”. This is critical as in our flesh sometimes suffering makes us want to die. But we have to realize that death only has a mere shadow. Why? Light. No shadow exists without light. Always remember the promise in 1 John 1:5. “In Christ, no darkness exists”. If you placed your faith in Christ at some point, guess what? Your position in life has no darkness.
- Deeply Believe God Is Fighting For You.
Trauma and suffering exposes our M.O. (mode of operation) as humans. Usually our response is to use all our strength to fight to get out of the horrible situation. This is mere flesh and not tapping into the power of the Holy Spirit that resides in us as Jesus followers. When we fight to get out of the fire, the fire heightens and surrounds us. My friend Joe’s fiance wrote the popular praise song, “Surrounded: Fight My Battles” bannering the awesome truth: “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:14 NLT) We can rest like Jesus in the storm only if we internalize this reality. Often we feel surrounded by hardships, impossible circumstances, and Satan’s attacks, but the truth is we are surrounded by God and again His awesome protective presence. But He is not only with us, He’s ACTIVELY fighting for you. Meditate on this fight song that Alyssa wrote for you declaring God’s powerful presence in your life.
- Deeply Know God Is Refining Your Character.
Your pain is not in vain. It’s not from God but can be used for God’s Glory. There is a purpose for your suffering. When we suffer not acknowledging God’s presence, sin occurs and suffering worsens because God is the only Healer and He’s the only one that can make your suffering intentional. God intentionally builds your character in your suffering: “But that’s not all! Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!” (Romans 5:3-5 TPT) During the suffering it may be difficult to see exactly how God is transforming your character to be like Jesus. But He is. He’s transforming you to be cruciformed, shaped by the cross. Suffering from prison, Apostle Paul claims He wants this! Suffering is one way to abide in Jesus. “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,” (Philippians 3:10)
During the suffering it may be difficult to see exactly how God is transforming your character to be like Jesus. But He is. He’s transforming you to be cruciformed, shaped by the cross.
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Which of these three traits of resiliency to thrive out of trauma sticks out to you? Comment below about your testimony. Remember we are about mobilizing you in your missional life. The Bible is clear on who your comforter is and how He will use your suffering in your daily missional life among your existing spheres of influence. Again, Paul sums it up well: “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:4)
We are praying for twenty-four new monthly givers this year. All giving is tax deductible. As a monthly giver, you will receive an autographed copy of Weak Is The New Strong and the next book Todd is writing for us as a handbook for the ministry, Mobilize Your Missional Life.