A favorite book at bedtime in our house is one titled The Littlest Owl by Caroline Pitcher. It tells the tale of an owl born smaller than its brothers and sisters, and is subsequently the last one to stand on its own, get to the food, and to learn how to fly. The Little Owl’s siblings wonder about his delays and occasionally try to cheer him on, but ultimately, he is left to push through and catch up to them all on his own.
As readers, we watch him continue to try and fail, until the owl family encounters a wild storm that threatens to destroy the tree they call home. Mother Owl instructs the family to leave their nest and fly to safety, testing the Littlest Owl’s skills one last time. As you might imagine, with this being a children’s book and all, his wings caught flight and he made his way to safety, just in the knick of time.
When that Little Owl came up short time and time again, but continued to right himself and try again, he was cultivating a reservoir of resilience. What might this look like in real-life terms when the obstacles we face are larger than being born with shorter legs and downy feathers and being the last in line for breakfast?
What about when we make the choice to get up and get dressed for the day, even on the mornings we wake up feeling depressed or anxious?
Or when we engage in a difficult conversation with a loved one, because we know the relationship is worth it?
Or when our hearts are overwrought with grief, but we still choose to nourish our bodies and keep living another day?
Paul explains in Romans 5:3-5, that “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
I believe he is describing the process of how hard things in life can amplify the seed of resilience that we were created with. Acquiring and growing resilience is not a matter of willpower, or even an act done with great intentionality or expectation. Rather, it flourishes in the spaces of our human experience when we rise up to meet the situation in front of us, and to partner in hope.
How gracious is our God, to equip us with the internal fortitude to survive hardships, all the while refining our endurance and character to empower us for what’s next. May we take heart that He does not abandon us. Not only does the Spirit accompany us through trials, with comfort and guidance abundant, but we have also been gifted with our own pool of resilience to draw from. And on the other side of the pain that we encounter lies confident hope, that does not lead to disappointment, but to love.
About the Author
Britni is a quiet but fearless spirit who is earnestly seeking the beauty of the redemption that Jesus has personally determined for her life. Committed to the truth that listening breeds understanding and understanding results in compassion, she clings to the power of life’s stories. She has embarked on the venture of discovering her own story and lending an ear to the stories lived out in others and savors the trace of Jesus that is woven throughout them all. Currently, that journey has landed her in a balancing act between the role of wife, momma, and a mental health Care Coordinator.