Studies in Spiritual Resilience
In this post-pandemic season as we recovery on some fronts but also continued hardship and strife, these five studies (from both the Old and New Testaments) help root us in God’s faithfulness to his people who throughout history have endured trial, hardship, famine, persecution, and plagues.
Series Introduction
The news on our feeds can often feel like we’re moving from one crisis to the next: hurricanes, political polarization, and scandals—just to name a few. This seemingly never-ending cycle brings disruption into the world, our communities, friendships, families, and our internal well-being. As we wonder how to feel our feelings and be resilient, it helps to look to people who have gone before us into seasons of trouble.
This series of Bible studies are excerpts of letters from the first parents of Christian faith to communities of new Christians. All were experiencing trial, hardship, famine, persecution, and even plagues. May the Holy Spirit‘s voice through their ancient words mentor us as we hold our souls and each other.
A pastoral word: these studies and their questions are guidelines to help small groups look for Jesus together. If the Holy Spirit leads you towards a different way than the questions here, you have every freedom to go there. Pray for wisdom (James 1:5), listen for God’s leadership, and follow. Trust God will give you the way forward.
These small group Bible studies point us and our communities towards Jesus and our neighbors when the problems of our lives, culture, and world feel overwhelming. We often feel the temptation to enter into denial or panic, to self-medicate, or self-soothe. However, cultivating intimacy with God, yielding to God’s leadership, and practicing faithfulness in the places God has called us develops resiliency and helps us become more like Jesus.
An Adjusted Prayer of St. Francis
Let this slightly modified version of a classic prayer guide you and your community through this series and in the season ahead.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is fear, let me sow love Where there is isolation, friendship
Where there is panic, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O Divine Master, grant that I may
Not so much seek to be healthy as to heal
To be comfortable, as to bring comfort
To be loved, as to love
For it is in Christ‘s giving that we receive
And it’s in His hands that we are made clean
And it’s in His death that we are born to Eternal Life
Amen
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About the authors
As InterVarsity's National Director of International Student Ministry (ISM), Anna Lee-Winans leads ISM's Leadership Team to serve students and scholars from every nation, to every nation. Anna has served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA for 24 years - as a Campus Minister at New York University, as an Area Director for Graduate and Faculty Ministries (GFM) in New York & New Jersey, as the National Director of Discipleship & Growth, and as a national strategist for GFM. She is a second generation Chinese American born and raised in NYC, serving as a social worker in a pediatric AIDS clinic before ministering with InterVarsity. She has both a MSW and BA from NYU. She lives in Queens, NY with her husband and two daughters. Anna enjoys eating adventures with gracious people.