Recently I posted a piece on collegeprayingmoms.com acknowledging ways in which many of the women involved in MomsHooPray have Tested Positive In a Pandemic.

As life continued to be “challenging,” and parents and students struggled, I encouraged these moms to shore up their own faith by turning to God’s word—in order to pivot. Pivot from thinking too long or too often about what is crappydoodle—”because of COVID”—to what is absolutely amazing—”because of Christ.”

Here are a few “because of Christ” truths to combat the crappy “because of COVID” thoughts (otherwise known as stinkin’ thinkin’):

Because of Christ, we can be sure that God really REALLY loves us: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (do your own research on Roman crucifixion. Jesus “set his face like flint” and walked toward Jerusalem, knowing God’s mission for him included the cross.)

Because of Christ, we can pray honestly and boldly to a Holy all-powerful heavenly Father: “…we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

Because of Christ, we know that God will overcome and one day redeem all the issues/troubles/hardships that his children have:  “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.” John 16:33

We can all become “re·sil·ient: able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions,” by growing an overcomer’s attitude as we are daily transformed by what is true—even in these times. A wise friend once shared that “Truth is truer than how we feel.”

So today, this week, this month, this year, get into God’s word. Read the “good news”—one of the four gospels.

Start by reading the gospel of John. It’s in John’s good news that Jesus makes 7 incredible claims which challenge each reader to answer, “Who do you say that I am?”

Find out for yourself how God’s love is greater, higher, wider, deeper than COVID, or anything else that is part of our fallen world. He is more than able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or imagine according to His power working in us.

Then after you’ve given God your time and attention and allowed his word to teach and correct and direct your thoughts, here’s some more ammunition to add to your resilience arsenal.

YouTube Videos demonstrating resilience:

“We all have a choice to make in life if we’re going to show up for what we never saw coming…My life is not a typical life. It’s not an easy life, but finding joy in the life you do have, not in the life you wish you had is probably the beginning of any real wisdom in life.” (Katherine Wolf)

I Survived – 9/11, Shark Attack, Gunshot, Twin Towers, Sex Trafficking, Death

Finding Hope Again with Kay Warren

American Resilience – Episode One: The Flying W – Rise Out of Ashes

And here are some of my favorite films, based on true stories of overcomers who rose above their circumstances:

Harriet (2019/Harriet Tubman’s story—she was a woman of deep faith)

I Can Only Imagine (2018/Mercy Me songwriter Bart Miller—faith leading to forgiveness)

Hidden Figures (2016/The story of three ” brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history”)

The Good Lie (2014/Lost Boys of Sudan—powerful message of sacrificial love)

42 (2013/Jackie Robinson’s story—watched long ago—I really liked this)