You may be familiar with the TV series, Survivor; “a reality-competition featuring a group of contestants deliberately marooned in an isolated location, where they must provide food, water, fire and shelter for themselves.”
Of course, the contestants know in advance the challenges they must face and the level of difficulty. I don’t believe anyone would sign-up if they didn’t believe they could survive.
This brings me to the reality many face today that is not a game. This year has not been any easier than last year and I don’t think 2022 will be any better. To help us survive we can learn characteristics from survivors in real life. Survivors don’t give in to fears, they discover new ways to make things different. Yes, this takes effort and maybe help from like-minded people.
Survivors also are known for enjoying life. During difficulties and personal blunders, they can laugh and also know when to take a break from the heaviness of their crises.
Flexibility and resiliency are also needed to learn how to adapt. Consider a large tree swaying in the wind, or skyscrapers for that matter. If they were rigid, they would break. The more rigid we are in the face of difficulties the less hope we will have in life.
If you are going to survive any crises there must be perseverance; giving up is not an option. Perseverance is a sign of hope and faith. Hope is not looking to the future with blind optimism, but realistic optimism. To look with hope is to be aware of the struggles and difficulties in life, but you live beyond them with a sense of potential and possibility that today and tomorrow hold.
Survivors don’t just live for themselves or by themselves, they have healthy people who can build them up and encourage them. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Our hope and optimism are not grounded in ourselves or any agency or institution, but in God who can and may use human resources to see us through. God alone can set us free and back on our feet in due time. Isaiah 40:31 Those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
“Create a list of what the future holds – how can you make the most of a seemingly difficult situation? Write down the ways you can handle the situation and adapt to it rather than dreading it and expecting the worst.
There is no question that God’s promises are true. Is it difficult for you to trust in the Lord when life is out of control? What is one step you will take to become resilient next time you’re not able to fix a situation?” H. Norman Wright, Restarting the World
Pr. Bob Snitzer
By the Way: Today Confirmation 4:30
Sunday 14, 9:00 Morning worship. Sermon: Watch, Be On Guard Mark 13:1-3
10:15 Sunday school for all ages.
Monday 15: OCC drop off begins. Be sure to sign up to collect boxes if you haven’t.
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~ Easy way to donate to the church is to go to our website: www.pilotknob.org and click on the DONATIONS button at the top right.
~ Past communiques can be read on our website: www.pilotknob.org
*Truth for Health Foundation is a physician-founded 501(c)3 public charitable Foundation incorporated in the state of Arizona, USA. We are dedicated to following the Oath of Hippocrates to serve individual patients to the best of our ability and judgement and to uphold the highest standards of medical ethics.
Foundation Officers, Directors, and Staff are grounded in Judeo-Christian principles of honesty, integrity, respect, kindness, compassion, humility and commitment to preserving God’s gift of Life as we serve our patients and communities.
We strive to honor God and Jesus Christ in all we do as we conduct business, and to follow Biblical principles exemplified in Jesus’ Healing Ministry throughout the New Testament as we implement health programs for the people we serve.
We are a Christian organization serving people of all faiths, as well as those who do not follow a faith tradition. https://www.truthforhealth.org/about-us-truth-for-health-foundation
