Resilient Like Bacteria

As I watch these tiny, single-celled organisms continue to grow in the petri-dish, even in unsatisfactory environmental conditions, I realize bacteria has an uncanny ability to adapt and survive. Their ability to adapt to changes in temperature, pH, ion concentrations and presence of antibiotics have allowed them to thrive. For example, the bacteria E. coli found in our guts survives changing gut conditions as our diet changes affects their oxygen supply. Watching these microscopic organisms withstand the harsh conditions truly showed me the importance of being resilient.

Resilience (n.) – ability to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; demonstrate mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility to adjust to external and internal demands.

There are times when life beats us down to a pulp. We are barely hanging on! It’s in these moments that we unknowingly accept defeat. But what we fail to realize is that the acceptance of defeat takes away our resilience. We begin to encourage a ‘can’t do’ mentality as opposed to a ‘can do’ mentality. We forget the powerful words of Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through God. As we face the harsh conditions of our lives, are we going to rise and thrive like bacteria, or wilt away and accept defeat? When we operate from a place of defeat, it affects our decision-making. We focus on avoiding disappointment and difficulty. We begin to play it safe. We begin to limit ourselves. We begin to run away from the troubles. Inadvertently, we are choosing bondage over freedom. But is that a life to live? Shouldn’t we become all that we can be?

‘I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.’

– Maya Angelou

There are three main factors that affect our ability to be resilient. Firstly, our perspective in these trying times can determine whether we thrive or shrink. Remember What Lens Are You Using? If your eyes are focused on the positives, you begin to see your ability to overcome. You begin to see that trials stretch you. These difficult moments push us to change, to expand our mentality, to think beyond what we are used to so that we can grow. The stretching is painful, but it is rewarding. Imagine the bacteria that must stretch their capacities to become who they are to overcome their own harsh conditions. It must be painful, but the result is rewarding. Another factor that affects our ability to be resilient is our coping strategies. How do you deal with the trials in your life? Do you wallow and mope? Do you feel like a victim? Do you roll up your sleeves and get ready to go to work? Do you go to God in prayer for the strength to endure and thrive? The way you cope can either limit you or expand you. It can either cause you to bloom or wither in the adversity. The final factor that can affect your ability to recover is your social resources. Are you surrounded by people that speak life to you? Or are you surrounded by people that speak defeat to you? The ones you have in your corner can also affect how you handle the trials in your life. They can affect your perspectives and even your coping strategies and thus influence your ability to recover when faced with hardships. It is important to analyze these areas in our lives and their effect, good or bad, on our ability to be resilient.

Like bacteria, we should demonstrate flexibility to recover and withstand the difficulties that we may face in life. These hardships are never to harm us, but to stretch us so that we become all that we are called to be.