One of the biggest buzz words in education and child development in the past decade has been: GRIT.
How do we raise gritty and resilient kids?
How do we teach children to keep trying over and over, even when it is difficult?
Even when they don’t see success?
How do you persevere and stay engaged, especially when things aren’t always “fun”?
I feel like I’ve noticed a shift in our church culture, too.
“Even in turbulent times, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is gritty and resilient. It helps us sift through unimportant distractions. It encourages us to keep moving along the covenant path.” —Lisa L. Harkness
How do we develop gritty faith?
The faith in Jesus Christ that is resilient? That isn’t dependent on immediate results?
The faith in Jesus that sustains even when the social aspect of church fails us?
The love for God that keeps us clinging to our covenants instead of getting swayed by every persuading opinion we hear?
“Be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.” (Haggai 2:4-5)
The Lord asks us to get to work.
He asks us to cast our fears away and focus on hope and love instead.
He asks us to remember what God has done in the past in order to trust that He’ll keep His promises in the future, too.
Gritty faith.
It’s not a phrase I’ve heard very often, but it’s one that I really like.
The faith in Jesus Christ that keeps us moving forward, focused on the things that matter most, no matter what may come our way.
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
