I believe God is making all things new. He is turning all things to good. You may be facing a situation that doesn’t seem good right now, but His presence gives peace.

According to the world’s standard, it may look like you’ve lost it all. Can I encourage you today? Just don’t lose you; don’t forfeit your soul. And don’t lose sight of your Heavenly Father. He’s holding you in the palm of His hand. Lean in. Hold on tight to Him; be tethered to Him.

Look to Him. Be on lookout for Him. Watch for grace.

And be resilient.

Merriam-Webster’s defines resilient as “characterized or marked by resilience: such as capable of withstanding shock without permanent deformation or rupture; tending to recover or adjust easily to misfortune or change.” Resilience is “the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress.”

In my experience, resilience isn’t always my initial response to misfortune or change; it isn’t naturally easy. It’s often a choice to keep going, to not give up.

But it does mean that we’re able to withstand shock; we’re capable of recovering from strain and strife. We might bend under the weight of circumstances, but we don’t lose our true selves in the midst of the storm.

There have been multiple seasons where my body, spirit, soul have been strained by stress. But thanks be to God! Because of Jesus, by grace, through faith, I am learning to recover my true self. I am resilient. He’s the potter, I’m the clay. He’s forming me.

This setback, this change, will not deform or define me. This season is helping to reshape me, to uncover my real life, to discover again relationship and priorities. I don’t have to rupture. I can release the energy I’ve absorbed and spring back to me. I can rest, reset, and bravely leap in a new direction.

Sometimes the beginning seems better than the end. The bitter seems to outweigh the sweet. At the end of a trial, we’re often left with empty hands and a broken heart.

Even here, there is grace. Even here, this is victory. Even here, there is evidence that God is turning it all to good. There’s a miracle in the making. There’s a grave being transformed to a garden. A testimony is being written; a story is being carefully crafted.

Sometimes the blessing is disguised as tragedy.

We grieve the loss; we feel the emotions. We mourn the broken and hard things.

We get close to Jesus.

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” – Mark 6:31

When we’re with Him, our perspective changes.

Look at all the growth. The breakthrough. The love. Loss and grief are present – yes – but don’t forget the good that’s taken place.

I have learned. I have bloomed. There is purpose in all of it.

I am resilient.

This week’s song suggestions:

• Seasons covered by Jon Wright
• Have It All by Brian Johnson
• Canvas and Clay covered by Jon Wright