The resilience of an intercessor (2)

Samson is a good example of a man who showed uncommon resilience in adversity. He refused to succumb to the humiliation the Philistines subjected him to. Despite his losing his hair, and his eyes and being chained, he was able to take revenge on the Philistines. Once his hair began to grow, he prayed to the Lord and was able to rise from the dust of a victim to overcome the Philistines.

Though blind, he held on to the pillars of the temple where the Philistines were feasting and pushed with all his might until the entire temple collapsed leaving thousands dead. “… So the dead that he killed at his death were more than those he had killed in his life,” (Judges 16:30 NKJV). That is the spirit of a resilient man.

The prayer of a resilient man is full of desperation and hope. Samson’s prayer in Judges 16: 28 was full of hope. After his prayer, he bounced back into reckoning: “Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!” (Judges 16:28 NKJV).

Christians give up easily. If some people were to be in Samson’s shoes, they would have given up. With a little disappointment, many believers would get discouraged and quit coming to Church. They forget that God tests the faith of his children to know those whose hearts are faithful and loyal to him (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Every believer is infused with the DNA of Christ. The DNA of Christ is the spirit of resilience; it is the resurrection power of Christ dwelling in the believer. The resurrection power was infused into the believer because he died with Jesus, was buried with him and also rose with him.

Resilience is the mark of every fighter, especially those who fight to win. Esther showed resilience when she said: “If I perish, I perish.” The angels overcame Satan by sheer resilience, for “they did not love their lives unto the death.”

The spirit of resilience is the spirit of courage. David displayed resilience when by providence he was sent by his father to take some victuals to his siblings at the war front. Listening to the boasting of Goliath awakened the resilience of David. He defied the discouraging counsel of Saul, that he was inexperienced and only a lad compared to Goliath.

He defied the harsh criticism of his brothers, who felt he was being unwisely inquisitive and arrogant. He courageously went after Goliath and subdued him. Resilience does not bow to fright; it rather subdues it.

Job was perhaps displaying the mark of resilience when he said: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him,” (Job 13:15 NKJV). The faith of the resilient in God must be unshakable no matter what happens. Job was determined to live, and his end is a testimony of resilience.

Discouraging as the results of the last elections were, they should not deter the resilient believer. It should not deter him from continuing in prayer or believing in his God. The election was man’s attempt to frustrate the purpose of God, which can only be temporary. The road between vision and the attainment of the goals of a vision is long, rocky and rough.

It is littered with casualties, crestfallen soldiers who may have ended up as heroes if they had not given up along the way.
• Contact:pastoracukachi@gmail.com