Rev. Dr. Mark David Albertson
Happy start of the new week, friends. Let me start this post with a question: Have you ever tried to put together IKEA furniture without instructions? It’s hard enough for me to put it together WITH instructions!
That, my friends, is how life sometimes feels—confusing, frustrating, and you’re left wondering, “Where does this piece go?” That’s when we need resilience—not just duct tape and stubbornness, but real spiritual resilience.
Feel free to disagree with me, but if I were to name the one thing that is the key to thriving and succeeding in this world, I would put resilience at the top of the list.
I’ve had friends and family members who have been through a lot, and as an observer, I think that resilience is the biggest thing that helps them thrive in the midst of challenge.
Resilience isn’t about pretending things are fine or stuffing down your feelings. It’s about rising again after you’ve been knocked flat. It’s the ability to bend without breaking and to trust that God is still working even when your world feels like a Jenga tower one block away from collapse.
A great verse in 2 Corinthians states exactly that:
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
—2 Corinthians 4:8-9
The Apostle Paul knew something about resilience. Shipwrecked, imprisoned, beaten—he didn’t live a cushy life. But he kept going because he knew he wasn’t going alone. God was with him in every storm and setback.
Let me tell you about my mom. She baked the most amazing chocolate cake. It was called a “dirty saucepan cake. It was chocolatey, had walnuts in the frosting and was delectable. When I was in the service and came home on leave, she would always bake me a dirty sauce pan cake. You know what, though, if you tasted the ingredients separately—flour, raw eggs, baking soda—you’d spit them out. They’re bitter or bland. But together, baked with love and heat, something beautiful came out.
Resilience is like that. God takes the bitter parts of life and, over time, turns them into something greater. Romans 8:28 says:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”
Not some things. All things. Even the mess, even the pain. Even that IKEA shelf you gave up on and turned into firewood.
If you’ve ever seen a hurricane on the news, you’ve seen palm trees bending almost to the ground. But they rarely snap. Why? Because their roots go deep, and their trunks are designed to flex.
That’s what a resilient faith looks like. When life’s hurricanes come, you might bend, but with God as your foundation, you won’t break.
Jesus said:
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
—Matthew 7:24
Storms come for everyone. The question is—what are you standing on?
Let’s get practical. How do we develop spiritual resilience?
- Root yourself in Scripture. Even five minutes a day helps. It reminds you who you are and whose you are.
- Stay connected to others. Don’t isolate. God often shows up in the form of a phone call, a friend, or a casserole.
- Talk to God honestly. Not fancy prayers—raw ones. “God, I’m tired,” is a holy prayer.
- Remember past victories. If God brought you through that, He’ll bring you through this.
I don’t know what storm you’re facing right now. Maybe it’s illness, grief over the loss of a loved one, family conflict, the frustration of seeing our bodies get older and worn out, or just plain burnout.
But I do know this: God sees you. He’s walking with you. And even if you’re down to your last thread of hope—He’s got you.
Isaiah 40:31 says:
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
That’s a promise. And God doesn’t break promises.
So go today knowing that God walks with you. Storms may come, winds may blow, but your foundation is strong. And your story’s not over yet.
