Devotion: Resiliency
Resiliency
Please take a moment to read Philippians 4:7-14
“… Not that I am referring to being in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have… I can do all things through God who strengthens me…”
When this worship series, Resiliency, was taking shape, I will admit that I was a bit nervous because of the tough content. Now, I know that I tend to be a worrier about such things, but this series takes a long and hard look at a reality that most people don’t want to face, but we also inherently know as true. Namely, we can see that our children are in emotional and spiritual peril and we don’t know how to stop this from happening. We also know that they are simply exaggerating our own emotional and spiritual struggles.
The statistics I shared in this weekend’s sermon regarding the levels of anxiety and depression for adults and children show a lack of resilience. What we know is that God wants us to be strong in the world. This comes from a place, not of pressure, but of compassion. Our hardships are never the end, nor never are they punishment that God has exacted on us. Our pain and suffering – the spaces that need a resilient response – are nothing other than the times in which God seeks to enter into our life and love us more fully. God is always wishing and wanting to show us love. God doesn’t create, but rather uses the hard times of our lives as the means by which we may be drawn close in love. Just like the Apostle Paul and all he endured.
When has pain drawn you close to God or another in love? I am willing to bet that this was also a struggle that brought you to a place of resilience on the other side.
Gracious God, give us the courage to reflect on the hard places in life. Give us the vision to see your loving presence in the midst of the struggle. Draw us closer to you, O Lord, we pray. Amen.
Written by Pastor Greg Bouvier
Pastor Greg heard God’s call to Sheridan in 1999 and that began a journey which has become his life’s work. Having played a variety of roles as pastor of Sheridan, Pastor Greg was called as the Senior Pastor in 2011. He leads the staff and his primary focus is on the creation of culture, the overall direction of worship and partnering with our amazing team. Pastor Greg has been married to Rose for more than 30 years and together they have two servant-hearted grown children.