Resilient

One day last week I listened to this podcast while choosing to go for a run after work on a Monday, Made For This with Jennie Allen. And these were the verses she referenced:

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But, just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1: 13-16

I want to preface this blog post by saying, you do not have to do one thing to be loved by God, you already are. The ONLY thing you have to do is accept Jesus Christ as your savior.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2: 8-10

Now, let’s jump into resilience. I’ve been on this journey this last week thinking about resilience, resilience from the word of God. I have written many things down, sat in silence, listened to worship music, prayed, and read many bible verses, but this morning I stumbled upon these two verses in 1 Peter.

Though you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1: 8-9

I read these over and over again and then decided on reading all of 1 Peter 1 and into the first part of 1 Peter 2… as I wrote earlier, we don’t have to do ANYTHING to receive God’s love; He already freely gave it to us. And in 1 Peter, we are reminded of that very love we are given. Through faith, by grace. We are shielded by God’s power (1 Peter 1: 5) as we walk this battle between the flesh and the spirit. But, then we are given the next portion of 1 Peter 1, into 1 Peter 2…Be Holy.

From that podcast, from those first verses in Peter is where I first started thinking about being resilient and what that looks like from God’s truth versus the world’s view and more personally, how I am being resilient with God, or rather if I even am being resilient. If you believe in God, if you are putting your faith in Him, then be holy. Not because you have to, but because you can be.

…You were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1: 18-19

So then, what does it mean to “Be Holy,” to be resilient instead of fragile? I think the answer is quite simply written, be in relationship with Jesus. Seek Jesus first. Set your heart on Jesus. Obey Jesus. Ask Jesus. Pray to Jesus. Sit with Jesus. And not to keep referring back to the bible in this blog post, but really you shouldn’t take any of my words for things anyway, but instead what God Himself has for you in His word. The truth does not come from me, it comes from the very pages of the bible. Anyway, Peter was the apostle who denied Jesus three times before He was crucified. He turned his back on the very man he knew as the Messiah; the man he walked with, loved, and believed in. He ran away, but God. He came back for Peter. In fact, in His resurrected state, He found Peter and in John 21, we read that Jesus reinstated Peter. He called Him back with this question, “Do you love me?” And three times, Peter responds, “Yes, Lord.” And before Jesus left him, he gave him these commands: Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”… “Follow me!”

I bring all of that up because then God used Peter to build His church, build up believers and lead people to salvation in Jesus. And he did just that. In Peter’s quest to build the church he wrote this, addressed to people like you and me:

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2: 1-3

Being resilient isn’t some big, strong, or aggressive thing. In fact, it isn’t even something possible by your power alone. Being resilient is like being a newborn baby. In Christ, you are born again. You are born into the relationship He calls you to. To be still, to crave what He offers to you in your salvation. To allow His power to shield you, to allow his power to be your very resilience.