Post-Traumatic Growth Syndrome
Resiliency: the ability to rebound quickly from a crisis or trauma.
Resilient people are like trees buffeted by the wind. They bend but don't break under pressure. They see negative events as an opportunity to better themselves or become better people. This phenomenon is known as post-traumatic growth syndrome!
Post-traumatic growth syndrome or PTGS is possible because people call on their inner resources and recruit outside resources to keep moving forward. For the believer in Jesus Christ, the Bible promises that when we practice certain character qualities, we will never fall (2 Peter 1:10)!
Scripture encourages us to supplement our faith "with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:5-8).
It is amazing that God has granted believers His precious and great promises. It is through these promises that we become partakers of His divine nature. We never become God, but amazingly we share in His nature as we become increasingly like Him.
A lifelong pattern of growth in Christlike character is possible and is the key to a fruitful life. Even secular researchers agree. "Generally people who are active in a religious faith tend to get through difficult times better," says Al Siebert, Ph.D., author of The Resiliency Advantage.
A Duke University study concluded that people with serious medical conditions who had strong religious convictions and participated in religious activities were less likely to be waylaid by depression. When these patients did become depressed, the depression lifted sooner than it did for less religious people.
In the emotional back draft of misfortune or change, I can chose to cultivate character qualities that are in harmony with God's own moral character. These qualities reflect the desires of my transformed heart - a heart made visible by re-framing my current situation in the most positive terms possible and navigating it for the glory of God.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
I've been thinking about listening...
The Undeniable Healing Power of Deep Listening
In 1985, the average American had three people in whom to confide matters that were important to them. By 2004, that number had dropped to two confidants with as many as 25% of Americans having no one in whom to confide.
Confiding is natural in a close relationship - the kind of relationship that provides a safety net when dealing with the confusing affairs of life. The mechanism that encourages confiding is the practice of listening. Unfortunately, most of us are woefully inadequate in the practice of listening - at least the kind of listening that incorporates a narrowing of focus directed solely to the person in front of us. Because we do not listen, we often miss the undeniable healing power of this simple but deeply complex and subtle process.
You may feel like I do. I think I am fairly skilled at asking good questions. I am not so gifted at sitting back and keeping silent! But isn't deep listening really allowing space for more possible factors to enter the equation?
What factors might contribute to the healing process God has designed for the person in front of me? Teacher and author, Karen Mains, shares some thoughts about how deep listening actually contributes good things to both the speaker and the listener by:
In 1985, the average American had three people in whom to confide matters that were important to them. By 2004, that number had dropped to two confidants with as many as 25% of Americans having no one in whom to confide.
Confiding is natural in a close relationship - the kind of relationship that provides a safety net when dealing with the confusing affairs of life. The mechanism that encourages confiding is the practice of listening. Unfortunately, most of us are woefully inadequate in the practice of listening - at least the kind of listening that incorporates a narrowing of focus directed solely to the person in front of us. Because we do not listen, we often miss the undeniable healing power of this simple but deeply complex and subtle process.
You may feel like I do. I think I am fairly skilled at asking good questions. I am not so gifted at sitting back and keeping silent! But isn't deep listening really allowing space for more possible factors to enter the equation?
What factors might contribute to the healing process God has designed for the person in front of me? Teacher and author, Karen Mains, shares some thoughts about how deep listening actually contributes good things to both the speaker and the listener by:
- providing an opportunity where an individual can be fully heard;
- strengthening the hearer's ability to listen on three levels - to the speaker, to the inner nudges of the Holy Spirit and to inner reactions;
- understanding there is wisdom, given by God to each person involved, which is best accessed by prayerful listening;
- creating space for the Holy Spirit to do the work of leading an individual to truth;
- encouraging unceasing silent prayer in the hearer;
- allowing for the uncomfortable reality that it is okay to allow issues to go unresolved, pain to come forth without being hushed or patted away or hurried;
- reinforcing the fact that it is okay for there to be no closure during time together
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
I've been thinking about ministry...
Impossible - Difficult - Done!
Many years ago, Hudson Taylor, the evangelical missionary of the China Inland Mission, described the challenge of ministry in twelve simple words.
First it is impossible,
Then it is difficult,
Then it is done!
Why is vital Christian ministry impossible to do? Because a human being cannot change another human being's heart. God alone accomplishes it through us only when we collaborate with Him.
Jesus' instruction is clear in John 6:28-29. When He was asked, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." Stripped of all my self-effort, I am reminded that my role is that of an extremely interested observer. My task? Listen with all my might, be ready to move at the impulse of His urging, then stand back and watch Him do the work.
IMPOSSIBLE
Hudson Taylor's twelve words describe the very thing which makes the Christian calling so incredibly exciting. We are entirely dependent upon God's empowering presence with us, and strangely, only if it is humanly IMPOSSIBLE are we called - or given a vocation - to do it.
God is kind to give us a vocation - a strong feeling that we are suitable for a particular career or occupation, as a directional arrow. But, even with this confidence in God's calling jingling in our pocket, we are reminded that we cannot accomplish the impossible without partnering with Him in our service to others.
DIFFICULT
Notice that the second line includes the word DIFFICULT. I have been around long enough to realize that accomplishing something good is not easy. Most of the time my assignment is to trudge along, obediently putting one foot in front of the other, for exceptionally long periods of time. The phrase, "the common begin, the uncommon finish" comes to mind.
Reminder to self: Don't be surprised that anything you undertake for God will be far more difficult than you ever imagined.
DONE
And then, the exciting and fulfilling conclusion in the third line - DONE! I love the exclamation point that shouts out triumph and victory are possible because God accomplishes ALL that He sets out to do. My joy is complete when I realize the Lord has used me, once again, in the unique way He created, fashioned and fitted me for ministry.
Looking back, I marvel! What seemed so insurmountable and impossible, the thing that stretched my patience to the limit because it was so difficult, is now DONE and we are off on another adventure!
Many years ago, Hudson Taylor, the evangelical missionary of the China Inland Mission, described the challenge of ministry in twelve simple words.
First it is impossible,
Then it is difficult,
Then it is done!
Why is vital Christian ministry impossible to do? Because a human being cannot change another human being's heart. God alone accomplishes it through us only when we collaborate with Him.
Jesus' instruction is clear in John 6:28-29. When He was asked, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." Stripped of all my self-effort, I am reminded that my role is that of an extremely interested observer. My task? Listen with all my might, be ready to move at the impulse of His urging, then stand back and watch Him do the work.
IMPOSSIBLE
Hudson Taylor's twelve words describe the very thing which makes the Christian calling so incredibly exciting. We are entirely dependent upon God's empowering presence with us, and strangely, only if it is humanly IMPOSSIBLE are we called - or given a vocation - to do it.
God is kind to give us a vocation - a strong feeling that we are suitable for a particular career or occupation, as a directional arrow. But, even with this confidence in God's calling jingling in our pocket, we are reminded that we cannot accomplish the impossible without partnering with Him in our service to others.
DIFFICULT
Notice that the second line includes the word DIFFICULT. I have been around long enough to realize that accomplishing something good is not easy. Most of the time my assignment is to trudge along, obediently putting one foot in front of the other, for exceptionally long periods of time. The phrase, "the common begin, the uncommon finish" comes to mind.
Reminder to self: Don't be surprised that anything you undertake for God will be far more difficult than you ever imagined.
DONE
And then, the exciting and fulfilling conclusion in the third line - DONE! I love the exclamation point that shouts out triumph and victory are possible because God accomplishes ALL that He sets out to do. My joy is complete when I realize the Lord has used me, once again, in the unique way He created, fashioned and fitted me for ministry.
Looking back, I marvel! What seemed so insurmountable and impossible, the thing that stretched my patience to the limit because it was so difficult, is now DONE and we are off on another adventure!
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