Counsels on Wellness

Counsel #27 — Bounce Back

Picture: Counsel #27 — Bounce Back CWe 87.1

Everyone knows going through hardships can feel discouraging. Receiving a fatal health diagnosis of a loved one or losing a job is tough, but maybe what is most overwhelming is living with the results of our own poor choices. Regardless of the source of the hardship, if you can decide to use that challenge as a stepping-stone to grow in faith and resilience, you will experience a new at-oneness with God. CWe 87.2

Many biblical characters, like David in his sin with Bathsheba, or Moses’ mistake of hitting the rock instead of speaking to it as God directed, turned from their wrongdoing and allowed God to grow their faith. These stories remind us that our wrong choices do not have to be the end — with confession on our lips and God-given repentance in our hearts, we can come back. Bouncing back means seeking God’s guidance, learning from mistakes, and moving forward in faith. Proverbs 24:16 tells us “the righteous may fall seven times, but they rise again.” Whenever encountering a stressful situation and feel you can’t persevere, remember, what seems to be failure doesn’t have to be final when we invite God to be in control.^[102] CWe 87.3

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8, 9 NIV CWe 87.4

“That in which all heaven delights is the restoration of God’s own image in the souls whom He has made.” Ellen White in Christ’s Object Lessons , p. 190 CWe 87.5

Reflect: What character trait is God molding in you through your “bounce back” process? CWe 87.6