Being Like Him - a 40 Day Lenten Devotionalনমুনা

Resilience

The word “resilience” is the ability to quickly bounce back after a crisis to a pre-crisis situation. Crisis was part of the earthly life of Jesus. From birth to death, we see that He had to face constant crisis. Many of His crises came from His very own people. The chosen ones who have been waiting eagerly for the Messiah were the ones who adamantly rejected Him. There were people keenly seeking an opportunity to ensnare Him, some even tried to push Him off the cliff and kill Him in His hometown. They scornfully rejected Him and ridiculed Him. The ultimate crisis at the cross represents the severest form of trauma Jesus faced. But throughout Jesus’ life we see that no crisis incapacitated Him from carrying out God’s mission. He was resilient indeed!

The Garden of Eden showcased the first historical crisis that the Godhead family faced after they created human beings. The crisis was so deep and costly but was efficiently handled by the Godhead family with grace and wisdom. The incarnation of Jesus and the story of the cross was the ordained solution for human sin.

Inability to return to normalcy after crisis is one of the reasons people attempt suicide. Bangalore was allegedly known as the suicide capital of India. Despite several gods and goddesses that people run after, there is no realistic hope amidst the excruciating crisis. The hope that the resilient Jesus Himself offers through the Cross is real. He is efficient to sustain us in the worst of crises as He has overcome the world. Nothing is too big for Him to handle as He has handled the worst of all violent crises on the cross.

A relative of mine recounted his personal story, as to how when his business hit rock bottom during the recession, he was left with huge debts and shattered hopes that he decided to commit suicide. He found time to be alone. He tied his wife’s saree on to the fan and reluctantly decided to kneel and read his Bible before he committed suicide. He knelt and prayed with deep agony and then started reading God’s Word and was preparing for his shameful death. His phone rang, but he ignored it thinking it would be one of the lenders. Continuous rings made him look at the call and he realized it was an international call from an unknown number. He finally picked it up, and the unknown man on the other side advised him not to do what he was intending to do and that he would offer him the necessary money to pay off his debts. The same day the money was transferred, and his debts cleared. The stranger arranged employment by which he could even repay that loan!

An unknown man was sent by a known God! Isn’t that amazing? Dependence on the unfailing love of God enables us to be resilient. To keep pressing on is the key. Don’t lose heart and give up! He can do the impossible when we yield ourselves to His will and purpose.

Prayer

Lord, who efficiently handled every dire crisis a man can inevitably face, help me to become resilient by placing my Hope in you Lord Jesus. Bestow the grace on me not to give up but to know that with you, I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen.