From my family to yours, Merry Christmas.
At Jerry Savelle Ministries, we love and appreciate you so much. We pray for you each day and link our faith with yours for God’s best in your life.
This year has been challenging for many people, but God is faithful and your victory is ahead. You’re still standing, and God is still on the throne. As we close out 2021, there is one quality that you must develop to overcome the hardships in life.
Before surrendering to the Lord, I was a quitter. I looked for the path of least resistance. When the pressure was on, I would simply quit. Maybe you can relate. When times get tough, are you tempted to give up?
Right now, many people are facing some of the toughest challenges in their lifetime. There is so much turmoil in our world. There are still shutdowns, restrictions, and economic effects from the coronavirus.
How are you going to respond when hardships arise?
Today I want to talk you about the need for resilience, the ability to continue when things look impossible. In the Bible, there are many examples of people demonstrating unusual resilience in the face of seemingly impossible odds.
Moses is one of those people. Even though he faced tremendous adversity, he never surrendered to it. He continued his mission regardless of what he endured and fulfilled the assignment that God had given him.
Joseph is another such individual who demonstrated unusual resilience. His brothers sold him into slavery, and later, he was thrown into prison because of the lies told about him by Potiphar’s wife. However, he never gave up on the dream that God had given him. Eventually, he became second in command over all of Egypt!
Joseph’s story reminds us to never give up and to always trust God to turn negative situations into something positive.
You’re not going to be able to avoid hardships. The apostle Paul said that trouble and persecution were waiting for him in every city. But I love his response in Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me…”
Writing from prison, Paul shows his resilience saying, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). We can read the account in Acts 14:19-20 where, even though he was stoned and dragged out of town by an angry mob and left for dead, he got up and continued his journey of faith and was determined to finish his course.
Have you developed an unmovable faith?Like the Apostle Paul, you must never stop PRESSING.
If you refuse to quit and become unmoved by hardships, God will bring you to a place of victory. Jesus tells us in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
We all face setbacks and failures, but never forget that failure is not final. If God turned it around for Moses, then He can turn it around for you too. If God rescued Joseph, He can rescue you. If God delivered Paul, He can deliver you.
God hasn’t let go of you or turned His back on you. He’s brought you this far, and He is still working behind the scenes on your behalf. He’s the same God that saved you before, and He can do it again.
Resilience is the ability to keep getting up and continuing to go forward regardless of how many setbacks you’ve experienced.
I love the no-quit attitude in Micah 7:8 which says, “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.”
Refuse to stay down. Throw off the discouragement and shame of falling down. God’s mercy is new for you today. You can get back up and get back in the fight.
Tough times never last, but tough people do. I’ve heard it said, “You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.”
Resilient people have developed the faith to praise God in the middle of life’s storms. They have the same attitude as the Prophet Habakkuk and declare, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
The Psalmist proclaimed, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19).
Resilience comes when you know deep down inside that God is for you and He will never forsake you.
Keep trusting God. Keep speaking faith. Keep rejoicing in the Lord. Satan can’t win if you won’t quit. The truth is, it’s impossible for Satan to defeat you when you refuse to give up!
Over the past 52 years, God has taken this former quitter and transformed me into a person of faith and resilience. I’ve seen God do the impossible and cause miraculous breakthroughs in my life. And He can do the same for you!
That’s why I’m so passionate about teaching you the same Bible truths that have changed my life. I’m so thankful for God’s calling on my life and that I have the opportunity to speak into your life. I want to see you become resilient in your faith and overcome every hardship you face. My assignment is to teach people how to become the winners in life, and you can be one of them.
I’m so thankful that God has connected us together.
This month’s teaching resource is a message I taught titled, Becoming Resilient. When you give this month, I’ve instructed my team to send you this message as my thank you for your support.
Your year-end giving will enable us to finish this year strong and step into 2022 ready for what God is calling us to do. We are pressing forward! And we’re thrilled to be doing it with you.
As you give this month, I’ve instructed my team to send you my anointed audio message, Becoming Resilient, as an instant MP3 download or compact disc.
You can give securely and conveniently online at www.jsmiaustralia.org/offering or by calling +61 7 5576 5534 and be sure to check the relevant box to receive your CD or MP3.
You can develop a no-quit resilience and overcome every setback, hardship, or attack. I’m praying for you and believing for God’s supernatural increase and favor for you.
In Him,
Jerry Savelle
P.S. Have you rejoiced in the Lord today? One way to stay resilient is by constantly remembering previous victories that God has given you. Take a moment and give God praise for His faithfulness shown to you. Again, Merry Christmas and keep pressing forward! I hope to hear from you soon.
