It’s not enough just to understand that we need resilience. It’s like marathon runners who set their sights on running a certain race. They can’t just buy the right shoes and think they are all set. They do all kinds of physical and mental training because they know what the marathon course is going to be like; there will be challenges ahead.
In this same way, you can only run an effective spiritual race by preparing for it! In John 13:33: Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world” (NIV).
You see, Jesus is telling us that we will face difficulties in life. But the good news is that He has made it possible for us to go through these tribulations victoriously. We can learn to endure and to go through some of the hardest things that life brings our way with our hearts and minds intact.
The secret is keeping ourselves spiritually prepared and trained so when life’s difficulties do come along they don’t just blow us off the map. To run your race to win, you have to prepare your whole person from head to heart to toe. Runners call it building endurance.
The writer of the book of Hebrews gives us tremendous insight on how to build resilient faith for resilient living. Remember, no one finishes a marathon by accident! Take a look at Hebrews 12: 1-2:
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What are the encumbrances and sins that you need to lay aside in order to run your race? The more we lay aside, the stronger we grow spiritually, and the better we will endure life’s hardships.
Spiritual Training Disciplines
Imagine if a man went to the gym and just watched people workout and then blamed the gym for his poor results. He might say: “That gym membership is not helping me a bit! I get there, people are sweating and working hard, and I’m watching them and trying to get into it, but when I leave I’m not any stronger at all. It’s a stupid gym! I’m not going back!”
Just joining a gym is not enough. Unless you lift the weights yourself and train your muscles yourself, you will not get stronger!
This is exactly what too many people do at church on Sundays. They go to church and watch other people workout. They watch their pastor, their youth pastor, the worship leader “pumping iron,” as it were, talking about their faith and what God has been speaking to them, but they don’t do any work of their own. Then one day they say, “I don’t know about that church. It just doesn’t seem to help me.”
There are spiritual exercises you need to do if you’re going to run a successful, lifelong spiritual race. In my book Resilient I go into some depth on the array of disciplines we need to practice to develop resiliency in our faith.
A couple of well known disciplines that every follower of Christ needs to exercise are the disciplines of prayer and Bible reading. These are essential and there are others besides that I describe in the book, such as the disciplines of silence, service, fasting, solitude, reflection, and Scripture memorization. These disciplines have been given to us by God for growth and the more we exercise them the more spiritually resilient we will grow.
Focus on the Finish Line
Marathoners will tell you that you can have your muscles trained, you can have great nutrition, you can be disciplined, but if you’re not determined to finish, you probably won’t!
Ron Luce was the co-founder and president of Teen Mania Ministries from 1986-2015. Ron and his wife Katie dreamed to raise young people who would change the world.
Ron received his bachelor's degree in Psychology and Theology from Oral Roberts University and his master's in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tulsa, along with an honorary doctorate from Jerry Falwell of Liberty University. He is a sought-after speaker who has traveled to more than 60 countries and has made numerous media appearances, such as Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family radio broadcast, CNN, The O'Reilly Factor, ABC Nightline, The 700 Club, Trinity Broadcasting Network, and the Sean Hannity Show. Ron has also written 35 books for teens, youth pastors, and parents and continues to speak at leaders' conferences helping parents and pastors understand the plight of today's youth and showing them how all of us can be part of the solution.
Ron and Katie currently live in Garden Valley, Texas, with their son Cameron. They have two daughters, Hannah and Charity.