It’s been a great week. If you follow my blog, you know that’s saying a lot considering the weeks prior. I am amazed at how resilient a heart and a human can be.
This week made me realize just how true Brene Brown’s findings on the make-up of resilient people are. Her research found resilient people all have these factors which enabled them to bounce back:
- They are resourceful and have good problem solving-skills.
- They are more likely to seek help.
- They hold the belief that they can do something that will help them manage their feelings and cope.
- They have social support available to them.
- They are connected with others such as family and friends.
- And spirituality.
Back in March of this year I had reread this chapter on resilience, but this week exemplified it.
My repetitive “kitchen conversations” of processing everything with my roommate, being in the Word, random calls through tears and confusion to my mentors and loved ones, prayer, reaching out to ask others for support & wisdom, resting cause I knew my body and heart needed it and even the friend who comes over with a bottle of wine and offers to wash your windows all helped in my bouncing back. There’s no denying that.
But, what has been the most amazing part of this week is the change in my heart, the change in my ability to believe in Hope. That might not make sense, but when I started blogging again, what I even wrote about was how I just never felt “good at hope”. It felt a whole lot more like wishing. I’d look around and just couldn’t see how the possibilities of what I “hoped” for could ever become true.
But this week? This week everything’s different. And I can’t even describe the why or the how. All I can say is it has to be by God’s grace alone.
This week, I listen to a Tim Keller podcast which I know I’d listened to before…. and for some reason, it hits me: Christ, there on the cross, Christ who could’ve gotten Himself down at any point but didn’t has to indicate that even this experience is love. It may hurt. It may not make sense. But, if He loves us that much knowing all we will ever do and be, and all that will ever happen and has happened, than this moment must have some good. It’s overshadowed by love. Whether we ever know what that good to come is or not can’t be certain. But what is certain is that it’s overshadowed by a loving plot line and a God who will do whatever it takes to love you. Trust that. Hope in that.
Then, going to church Sunday night, hearing a message probably similar to other messages I’ve heard in my 28 years…. something else hits me: I endure because I Hope in things that are true, it’s not just wishing. I’m not wishing if I can look around and I see the things I Hope for. I see them in others lives being lived out – the dreams of a family full of faith and love and joy, dreams for my future, ways in which God has overcome before. It happens. Love happens. Life happens. Joy happens. Transformation happens. Therefore, Hopes can be real.
Where I guess we get it wrong is our focus.
Do we focus on the reality? The things that don’t add up. The ways we were hurt. The impossibilities. The fears.
Or, do we focus on Christ? Do we focus on how we were loved before this happened, so we must be loved now. Do we focus on the one who redeems? Who creates? Who changes us? The One who uses all things to make us more like Him? Who will never leave or fail us? Who listens to our prayers and desires only to give us good gifts?
So, how do we overcome? How do we find true Hope?
Let Christ be the author of your Faith. Let Him help you believe when you don’t see the “why” or the “how” or the “when”. Keep your eyes on the joy set before you – Christ’s somehow making this into something beautiful. And don’t settle for less, don’t numb, don’t believe the untrue voice of powerlessness.
You got this. One breath. One step. One choice to act in resilience at a time.
Do not give up.
Where you end… He can begin.
Extra Musings and Random Thoughts
Sorry I can’t post the message from this Sunday’s church. It’s during a series called At the Movies which is not broadcast.
Another pitch to encourage you to read Brene Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection to learn more about this topic. It’s my favorite 🙂 Can’t wait to see her again live this August at the Global Leadership Summit!
Photo above is from my cousin’s yard on July 3rd. I absolutely love having family so close by!
Fireworks were from the same place which is hosting the U. S. Open. Traffic is crazy this week! But I’m excited to have this huge event local and even to attend tomorrow afternoon.
The actual 4th of July was rainy so I went to the movies… The movie Inside Out is excellent!!! I laughed, cried, smiled, and enjoyed every minute. So so worth going to see. If you don’t know about this movie, here’s my short synopsis: An animated family movie about the emotions inside of a young girl. All of her emotions have voices of famous actors and comedians. It’s adorable!
