The definition of resilience is the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties.
You can learn a lot about resilience from the animal kingdom. Animals can survive tougher conditions than human beings. They are constantly in a predatory environment—facing attacks from rivals or falling prey to animals who are higher in the food chain. Yet some animals find a way to survive.
Ants are resilient. They can survive under water for more than 24 hours and carry more than three times their weight. Camels can survive desert conditions and live without a meal or water for six months. Emperor Penguins survive by caring for their baby penguins in temperatures below minus 70 degrees centigrade, without the sun for several months.
Why do the children of Adam tend to give up, especially when it comes to God? Where do we get the power to be resilient in faith when life is hard?
The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk can help us. As he is facing a personal and societal existential crisis, he cries, “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?” (Hab. 1:2)
There is a threat within. Judah is full of chaos and destruction. Evil and wicked rulers have led people into a path of injustice and pain. Famine, drought, starvation, ruin, and death is all around (Hab. 3:17). There is also a threat from without. Babylon marches slowly but surely toward Judah, conquering cities and vanquishing kings on its violent path.
From Habakkuk’s point of view, God seems silent and idle. We can empathise with him, as often times we feel the same.
How does Habakkuk’s faith survive in such a harsh spiritual and personal environment? How can we grow in resilience during trial and suffering in life?
Be Honest Before God
We grow in resilience when we choose to be honest before God. The entire book of Habakkuk is an honest and open conversation between the prophet and God. Habakkuk does not hold back. His basic questions to God are, “Lord, you don’t seem to care,” “Lord, you don’t seem to be doing much,” and “Lord, you don’t seem to be fair to me.”
When we read the book aloud, it can make us squirm. In our Indian context, we cannot imagine raising our voice and being frank with our elders, teachers, or those in authority. As a believer, you do not talk like this to God.
We consider questions and doubts as weakness in faith that we should suppress at all costs. “Be strong! Pray more! Have faith!” Such voices are loud enough to make sure our hearts cry alone and in silence. But is that what we see modelled in Scripture?
God invites us to be honest with him. We see our spiritual forefathers—Job, David, and the prophets like Jeremiah—model openness and honesty before God. They bring their questions, emotions, hopelessness, fears, struggles, and doubts to him.
“Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Ps. 10:1)
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Ps. 13:1)
Walking in faith involves bringing our fears and frustrations before God. He already knows our hearts. He can handle our questions. Our God is a big God! The Lord is neither surprised nor annoyed. He invites us to come to him.
“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us” Ps. 62:8.
“casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7).
Like dumping Lego pieces and making a mess on the floor—with an unsorted pile of Lego blocks of all sizes, shapes, and colours—you can pour your emotions before God, unsorted, unfiltered, and unhinged.
In fact, this is what it means to have faith in a loving Father, to know that he accepts us unconditionally. This is what it means to live as sons and daughters, to know that in Christ, we have such intimate access before God. This is what it means to enjoy our justification in Christ, to know that we can boldly come before the Father without any fear of punishment, which fell upon Christ.
Being honest before God builds resilience. Hiding or pretending weakens it. Honesty before God is the place of healing and transformation. The love of God sweeps over our hearts to comfort and fill us with hope.
Be Honest in Community
Honesty before God is complete when it is paired by honesty with one another about everything.
The Apostle Paul makes it a point to invite others to know his physical, emotional, and spiritual struggles. He seeks their help through prayer and comfort.
He says, “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself” (2 Cor. 1:8).
Even in the church, people will disappoint us when we desperately need them. But do not let hurt and disappointment rob you of the comfort that Christ has for you in the community of faith. Learn to share your struggles, longings, fears, and doubts with trusted friends who can point you to Christ and remind you of the gospel.
The South American fire ants form a living raft when under water to ensure that no ant is under water for too long. The ants under water switch places with the ants on top to survive. God has placed us in a living community of faith to help us survive and be resilient during times of trial.
Being honest before God and being honest in community is difficult. Yet with practice, it can lead us to a place of flourishing in our faith. It can lead to a place of resilience.
