How To Bounce Back After Adversity

A study came out a couple of years ago that highlighted the difference between those who bounce back after adversity and those who don’t. Bounce-back people see challenges in adversity and maintain a “can do” attitude, while remaining focused on those things in life that are bigger than they. Those who don’t bounce back tend to be self-focused and negative thinkers.The differences between the two are seen across the board, with those facing major tragedy and minor. If you can’t handle the big things, you probably don’t do well with little things.When experiencing adversity, apply these steps:

• Go to God. This is #1. The first and best thing we can do, when either overwhelmed or suffering, is to run to God. Let your adversity drive you toward The Lord.
• Remain faithful. Make up your mind that you will not be a statistic, that you will endure and you will rebuild. Decide that now before God, and remind yourself of that commitment throughout your time of trouble.
• Take care of your health. You need your best self to handle this, so don’t let yourself go. Your physical well-being will affect your emotional and spiritual state. Get your sleep, eat healthy, work out, and keep a consistent a schedule.
• Let go of some things. Most of us are too busy anyway. But now…when your emotions are overwhelmed, it’s important to see which responsibilities are draining and unnecessary, and which are necessary and good for refueling.
• Maintain the others. Try not to let this affliction become an excuse for poor performance in other areas. Don’t compound your trouble by neglecting necessary responsibilities (housekeeping, family relationships, job, etc.). Doing well in other areas of life will help build valuable strength.
• Pursue Godly counsel. Solomon said, “In the multitude of counselors there is safety.” God has put wise and spiritually-minded people in your life for your benefit (we have lots of them here at The Bridge). Get their feedback.
• Go with God. This may look similar to point #1, but it’s different. Your way out of the wilderness is probably not the way your natural inclinations will take you. Let God lead you through this and accept what he has in it. Apply Biblical principles, listen to Godly counsel, pay attention to the Lord’s prompting, and let him bring you through whatever this is, without you forcing something that you’ll regret later.

Adversity is not fun, but it is inevitable. It may seem like the end of the world when you are in the middle of it, but it’s not. If you stick with the above steps, you can get through this and find valuable lessons and outcomes because of it. So don’t let this ruin you. Go to God and let him take you through it.