RESILIENCE! The difference between a winner and a loser!

Resilience !

Have you ever seen a child take a tumble that made you gasp and you hold your breathe waiting for the blood curdling scream that comes from the place in their brain that takes a second to respond to the fall, and you console them thinking "playtime's  over", but just as quickly as the fall they go back and play with the group because they don't want to miss a moment of the fun? 

About that time someone in the crowd chimes in saying,  "they'll be alright, children are resilient!"  We watch that child now playing like nothing ever happened, maybe with a little blood on their scrapped knee or a knot rising on their forehead and we conclude they are designed to bounce back - just something about kids.

The facts are;  you were created to bounce back and survive!  Whether you feel it or believe it, it is truth!  Something about us as human beings were designed to be resilient!  It's the concept of the second-wind or the release of adrenaline in our bodies that happens under immense moments of stress and duress.  You were designed to bounce back, fight back, and come back!

It's what happens when the boxer is lying flat on the floor of the ring as the referee is counting and he begins to rise up just before the final count.  It's what happens when the underdog is all but defeated by the guys with the upper hand and you see him look around at his plight and something from that deep recess of his mind and spirit shouts "ENOUGH!" and he takes a final stand and wins!  It's what happened in my all-time favorite Christmas movie, "The Christmas Story" when little Ralphie snaps and beats the snot out of that school yard bully like a pit-bull!

RESILIENCE!  You were created to not give up!  You were created to do what you think you can't and endure what you think you can't and come out better than you went in!  Physically you have that capacity, mentally you have that capacity and SPIRITUALLY you have that capacity!

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us:   we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed!"   2 Corinthians 4:7-9

We are, as His people, RESILIENT!   We can be attacked, maligned, persecuted, caught in tribulations and trials, but we REMAIN and not only REMAIN but we COME BACK better and stronger and showing off the power of God on our behalf!

We see the encouragement of resilience all through the Word of God.  David proclaimed that he would not die but live to proclaim the works of God.  Paul proclaimed that nothing can separate us from His love and we are made MORE than conquerors through Him and always caused to triumph in His name!   We are told that God takes everything that looks to be for our demise and uses it for our good and for His glory!  There is so much in the Word of God that persuades us that we are overcomers that when we get that Word in us, it will bounce us back at just the right moment!  We will think to ourselves, "ENOUGH" and get up, get back in the race, take a stand and keep running!

I have resolved that in my own life.  Lie about me, attack my character, try to destroy all that is dear to me, attempt to discourage me and make me fearful or worried - and believe me people (or the devil in people) have purposely set out to do those things in my life- BUT I WILL NOT QUIT and I WILL NOT STOP that which  I am put on this earth or in this city to do!  I will rise back up at the last count! I may be sweetly diplomatic for a while, but I will take the stand I need to for truth and justice!  I AM RESILIENT -  until they put the last square of green grass on top of my grave - AND EVEN THEN, I will win - because I planted enough seed of destiny in a legacy of lives to LIVE ON!