"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7)

The last few years have been tumultuous for so many. First, we were sideswiped by the horror and devastation of Covid; life hasn't been the same ever since. Then there was the spectacle of politics. The uprise of racial tension. The economic turmoil. The list goes on and on. Social media, for many, has become the source of all things news and opinions. There's a lot of noise in the world to get through daily, which can leave you feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, and spiritually depleted. 

REPLENISH YOUR SOUL

Are you feeling the weight of the world? Are you ready to get back in shape spiritually? Many Christians have stopped exercising their spiritual muscles. Do you feel disconnected from Jesus? It is time to replenish your soul and reconnect with Jesus at a heart level. If you feel like you’re just getting by with no capacity for extra, you are surviving, not thriving. And you’re not alone. And, here's the good news: Jesus wants to restore your soul and make you resilient!

WHAT IS RESILIENCE?

Resilience is the inner strength to endure and push through hardship. 

It is physical, emotional, and mental toughness; spiritual grit. In the book Resilient, author John Eldredge puts the impact of all that has transpired over the last few years into perspective when he wrote the following:

"Follow me closely now. To be suddenly stripped of your normal life; to live under the fear of suffering and death; to be bombarded with negative news, kept in a state of constant uncertainty about the future, with no clear view of the finish line; and to lose every human countenance behind a mask. May I point out that this is exactly the torment that terrorist regimes use to break down prisoners psychologically & physically? Folks, this had a traumatic effect, and we've got to plan for our recovery and find Resilience." 

TIME TO RALLY TOGETHER

Is this not the heart of what many are feeling right now? That's why community is so important. If you lack resilience, as a believer, it's imperative to surround yourself with people who can come alongside you, pray with you, encourage you, and help bear your burden. You need to find people who can empathize with what you are going through because they also feel the weight of the world. It's time to rally together! 

When you look back over the last few years, so many have walked away from the faith. In Matthew 24:3-8, Jesus warned his Disciples about hard times to come– He named some of the signs that would take place before His Return. Those signs include mass deception, false teaching, conspiracy theories, wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, famine in the land, divers of earthquakes, and the list goes on. In Matthew 24:10-12, Jesus says, “At that time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”

The signs of the times are all here - but no matter what, stay connected to God! Allow his word to take root in your life.

SEQUOIA REDWOODS

The truth is,God wants to make you resilient! And for you to become resilient, you have to be rooted! The Sequoia Redwoods perfectly display what it's like to be rooted. They stand tall yearly, surviving wildfires, windstorms, and earthquakes.But, Century upon Century, they don't just survive; they continue to grow and thrive! Unfortunately, it's easy to assume that their roots go down 100 feet or more, but the truth is, Redwood roots only go down about 10 feet underground. How do they overcome so much with such shallow roots? 

Redwood roots actually spread wide, almost 24 feet wide, reaching out to other redwoods underground. When their roots meet, they intertwine, creating a permanent bond that gives them incredible strength and resilience. These incredible trees braid their roots together, drawing strength from one another. So you may see a single Redwood tree above ground, but that tree really is an entire connected forest, holding each other up through a robust root system hidden underground. 

FIND YOUR COMMUNITY  

Redwoods are a powerful picture of Christian community! They symbolize Believers being rooted together in Christ – caring & supporting each other - so that when the storms come, the winds blow, and the heat rises,Believers stand firm! They hold on & hold up! Your band of redwoods, your community is waiting for you. Click here to find a Small Group community of your own today! 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For additional related content from Liquid Church, check out the resources below:

• MESSAGE:  For the full message from Liquid Church's Resilient Series, Part 1 “Rooted In Christ,” Click here.  
• CONNECTION: To get connected to a Group that’s right for you, Click here.
• SERIES: To learn more about our series, Resilient and other resources, Click here.