Some of the most challenging and destructive forces in the midst of adversity are fear, sleeplessness and anxiety.
There are two kinds of peace that will help us stay resilient in the midst of challenges and sustain us in the face of adversity: peace with God and the peace of God. God’s grace will grant us the ability to withstand pressure or stress in the midst of tribulation. It is a supernatural endowment of His strength in the inner man and a peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:16,20 (NKJV) That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man… Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
Biblically speaking, there is a strengthening in our hearts/spirit man/inner man when God infuses His grace into us. Although we might be emotionally, intellectually and physically drained, our inner man can be strengthened by God daily. His strength enables us to continue to soldier on despite challenges that we face daily.
Besides the infusion of God’s grace into our hearts, we can also be strengthened through the reading and meditation of God’s word and praying in the Holy Spirit. According to 1 Corinthians 14:4, our inner man is edified or strengthened when we pray in the spirit in tongues. God’s Grace = God’s Strength. God’s strength is also developed in us when we meditate on God’s love and how He pursued us to make us His own.
Bear in mind that grace is like a divine commodity given to the believer whenever it is needed. God’s Grace = God’s Strength. We need to step out and step up to experience God and build up our faith. No one can build up muscle just sitting on the couch. We need to hit the gym, work out with dumbbells, get onto the treadmill and do core exercises if we want to get physically fit or muscular. Are you willing to exercise your faith muscle to stay resilient in the face of adversity? If yes, then consciously seek to lay a lasting foundation for your life that’s based upon God’s love and grace.
Sermon Series: Resilience (Part 4)
经历神的爱，平安和恩典
逆境中最具挑战性和破坏性的力量是恐惧，夜不能寐和焦虑。
陷入挑战的时候，有两种平安可以帮助我们直面逆境，保持韧性：与神和好的平安，和神本性的平安。神的恩典所赐下的能力让我们在困境中应对压力。这是神赐给我们内在灵人祂的力量和平安，必在基督耶稣里保守我们的心怀意念。
以弗所书3:16,20求他按着他丰盛的荣耀，藉着他的灵，叫你们心里的力量刚强起来…神能照着运行在我们心里的大力充充足足地成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。
从圣经上讲，当神将祂的恩典注入我们时，我们的心/灵/内住的灵人就得以坚固。雖然我們可能在情感、智力和身體上都精疲力竭，但我们內住的灵人每天都會被神坚固。即便我们每天都面临挑战，祂的大力使我们能够继续战斗。
坚固自己的方法，除了籍着神在我们心中注入的恩典之外，就是通过读神的话语，默想神的话语，在圣灵里交通祷告。如同哥林多前书14：4所言，当我们在灵里用方言祷告的时候，内住在我们里面的灵人就得以造就和坚固。神的恩典=神的能力！当我们默想神的爱和神如何不离不弃帮助我们回转成为祂的儿女, 神的大力就在我们里面运行并增长。
请铭记恩典就像是一种神圣的物件，每当信徒有需要的时候，就赐给他们。神的恩典=神的能力。我们需要迈开步伐，踏出步子经历神并坚固信心。没有人仅仅坐在沙发上就能锻炼肌肉。若想健身并增肌，只有去健身房，举哑铃，踏上跑步机，做核心力量训练。你有意愿锻炼你的信心“肌肉”从而在逆境中保持韧性吗？如果是，那么有意识地寻求为你的生命建立一个持久的根基，而这个根基正是基于神的爱和恩典。
讲章系列: 韧性（反弹/恢复能力)（第四部分)