Choosing to Persevere: Grow Your Resilience

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between those who are defeated by struggle and those who are sharpened by it? Between those who are broken by pain and those who are made wiser by it?

The answer is resilience.

Resilience comes from the knowledge that no matter how terrible or powerful our mistakes and failures are, nothing can ever separate us in any way from God’s love for us in Christ (see Romans 8:37–39).

• As a follower of Jesus, you have the power of the resurrected Christ residing in you to get back up when you feel knocked down.

But the choice is yours. You can choose to either grow your resilience and cultivate grit or quit and walk away. You aren’t guaranteed success for persevering, but your obedience, no matter the outcome, is your greatest act of love for your God.

The next time you want to throw up your hands and quit, ask yourself the question: Am I willing to obey, run my race, and not give up out of obedience?

If you determine that quitting isn’t an option, then how will you choose to proceed? (There are certain situations where quitting is the appropriate option, but I’m addressing those times when our choice is between obedience to God and turning from His purpose for you.) The first thing you need to realize is that you need the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. It was never God’s expectation that God’s people carry out God’s principles without God’s power. That would be impossible. You aren’t alone in this! When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we are led, guided, and empowered to do what God calls us to do. We need the voice of God to remind us we have the grit to keep going.

If we’re honest, most of us live in the space somewhere between living to our fullest potential and wanting to quit. And living in that middle can be discouraging. Most of the time, when we struggle, it’s within the framework of the choices we believed were the best ones we could make to obey the God-call on our lives. You said yes to God, but now you’re experiencing so much resistance against the thing you felt called to do.

So what happens when you are doing what you have been called to do and you get knocked down because of it?

• There will always be resistance against you stepping into your calling, purpose, and potential. Facing this resistance requires resilience.

Resilience is built with three main ingredients: perspective, pivot, and purpose. When we have the ability to put things into perspective, we can properly assess a situation rather than living in fear or discouragement. My reality remains the same, but my perspective is focused on a God who cares for me. Through the power of His Holy Spirit, I will have the ability to pivot — when I hit a wall, I will think of ways to scale it, knock it down, or find ways around it. Why? Because I’m determined to find the purpose in all of this.

God not only cares for me, He has a plan for me. So I will keep forging forward and not quit.

Are you facing resistance? That’s a great problem! It’s a sign you are one step closer to walking in your purpose. And let’s be real: there will always be resistance to things that bring God glory. Did you think walking in your calling would be easy? I need you to know there is always a cost attached to the decision to persevere.

But can I also tell you there is a huge reward? You will discover how strong you are and how powerful God is when you choose not to walk away when it’s hard. So go ahead and cry. Yes, you can be frustrated. But then

stand back up and face the resistance like the warrior you are.

Respond

When have you been faced with the choice to persevere or walk away from what God wants you to do?

What can you do to change your perspective or pivot to remind you of your purpose?

What rewards can you enjoy by cultivating resilience and persevering through challenging moments?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that with the power of Your Holy Spirit residing in me, I can accomplish Your purpose for me and grow in resilience. When I am beat up, misunderstood, or simply where I don’t want to be, will You remind me that I am resilient, and that resistance is part of the plan? Thank You that I am never alone and that You are equipping me for Your purpose. To You be the glory, amen.

Written for Faith.Gateway by Bianca Juarez Olthoff, author of Grit Don’t Quit.

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Your Turn

What kind of resistance are you facing right now? Did you get knocked down? Stand up and face it! Pray today for the Holy Spirit to fill you with wisdom and determination and He will! Come share your thoughts with us. We want to hear from you!

Watch Session One of the Grit Don't Quit Bible Study.