I Will Rise

I don’t like the word, resilience.  It means, the capacity to recover quickly from unexpected difficulties. 

It’s not that I don’t like the idea of adapting to new challenges.  I just don’t like the connotations associated with the word these days.

“The Australian dollar is looking resilient.”

“Organisational resilience.”

The word simply does not inspire confidence for me anymore.

A few years ago, when something quite discouraging happened to me, I was sent a book on “Resilience.”  As I flipped through the pages telling me the benefits of resilience, I felt worse than before.

So far in 2020, we have faced a roller coaster of challenges: the bushfires, COVID-19, economic recession, a potential second-wave of COVID-19 in Victoria… 

Is anyone feeling resilient yet? 

Perhaps a better word that we can adopt as we face the second half of 2020 would be: remember.

Remember what you’ve been through, that you survived.  You can do it again.

Remember what truly matters to you.  Everything else is superfluous.

Remember who is still with you, who is still on your side.

Remember where you’re headed, where you want to be.

Remember why you started in the first place.

Remember how much you still have. 

As fears of further restrictions and a growing number of new coronavirus cases cause anxiety and frustration, let’s remember that “we have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19 NIV): Jesus has overcome.

Remember that God is love and “love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:7,8).

It is this love of God that will enable us to face our challenges and rise up again.

“I Will Rise” by Chris Tomlin

There’s a peace I’ve come to know 

Though my heart and flesh may fail 

There’s an anchor for my soul 

I can say “It is well” 

Jesus has overcome 

And the grave is overwhelmed 

The victory is won 

He is risen from the dead 

[Chorus:] 

And I will rise when He calls my name 

No more sorrow, no more pain 

I will rise on eagles’ wings 

Before my God fall on my knees 

And rise 

I will rise 

There’s a day that’s drawing near 

When this darkness breaks to light 

And the shadows disappear 

And my faith shall be my eyes 

Jesus has overcome 

And the grave is overwhelmed 

The victory is won 

He is risen from the dead 

[Chorus:] 

And I will rise when He calls my name 

No more sorrow, no more pain 

I will rise on eagles’ wings 

Before my God fall on my knees 

And rise 

I will rise 

And I hear the voice of many angels sing, 

“Worthy is the Lamb” 

And I hear the cry of every longing heart, 

“Worthy is the Lamb” 

[Chorus:] 

And I will rise when He calls my name 

No more sorrow, no more pain 

I will rise on eagles’ wings 

Before my God fall on my knees 

And rise 

I will rise

by: Jinha Kim

"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14