Resilient

Week 2 — Emotional Resiliency

John 20:11-20 (NIV 2011)

¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. ¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). ¹⁷ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. ¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ Aer he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

- Think of resiliency like a 3-legged stool

- What’s an emotion?.

- Jesus experienced emotions (selected verses)

#1 Jesus provides a way to be emotionally resilient.

- Mary Magdalene had an emotional morning - vs. 11-13

#2 It’s tempting to live by emotions rather than truth.

- Jesus shows up - vs. 14-18

#3 Emotional resiliency is anchored in the truth

that Jesus lives.

#4 Emotional Resiliency tools:

- Identify the emotion.

- Validate the emotion.

- Align the emotion.

Begin your day with the resiliency prayer:

Lord, I know that today events will happen, some good and some bad, some that are in my control, but most aren’t. I know that these events will trigger thoughts (why me, this shouldn’t happen to me, poor me, it’s not fair) and those thoughts will produce feelings that will impact my behavior. So, when these events happen help me remember that you are sovereign over all things and you have promised to never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5b), and that you will work it out for my eternal good (Romans 8:28), so that I can have feelings of confidence, peace, hope, and joy with the goal that my behavior brings you glory in all I say and do.

Points to Ponder

What is one thing that stood out for you from this week’s message?
When you picture a resilient person, who comes to mind, and why?
In what areas of life would you say you are quite resilient? In what areas do you have room for improvement?
Read 2 Corinthians 4:8-12, 16-18. Paul describes an ability to endure and remain faithful no matter what life may bring. What are some things that give a person this ability?
In Jesus you are a victor, not a victim. Why can it be tempting to adopt a victimhood mentality?
A victimhood mentality does more than limit a person’s potential for personal growth. How does it run contrary to faith in Jesus?
What’s the distinction between being full of faith and being faithful? Why are both necessary for resiliency?
Idols are things that we depend on for the strength or security to endure life. What are some idols that the world around us has normalized? What’s an idol that you need to address?
The application of this message was to visualize God’s presence, meditate on God’s promises, and anticipate God’s power. How would these practices fit into your daily rhythm this week?

Homework: John 20