Bouncing Back and Showing Up
Did you have one of those tiny rubber bouncy balls as a kid? The kind that shot off in every direction the moment it hit the ground?
I did. And let’s just say… I wasn’t exactly gifted in the hand-eye coordination department.
(I’m still not. But I’ve gotten smarter about hiding it. I don’t play catch. I wear glasses. My knees creak. And I’ve gracefully aged into the season of life where no one expects me to be athletic. Praise the Lord.)
Back to the bouncy ball.
I remember playing with one outside — dropping it, chasing it, getting frustrated — then bringing it into the kitchen where it couldn’t get as far away from me. I’d bounce it. Miss. Try again. Bounce. Miss. Try again.
It wasn’t elegant, but it was persistent.
I was learning something I didn’t yet have a word for:
Resilience.
A Little History
I don’t remember hearing about resilience when I was growing up, so I did a little digging.
Resilience is defined as “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.”
In the 1970s, researchers started using the term “psychological resilience” to describe children who were successful despite difficult circumstances. By the mid-90s, the term applied to adults too. Today, it’s everywhere — from mental health to leadership to business.
And for good reason.
How Can We Be Resilient?
Resilience, at its most basic, is the ability to bounce back from adversity.
Well, we know we’re going to have adversity in our lives. Jesus even told us we would:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
One of the surprising things about building an online business is how personally challenging it can feel to hit “publish” on a blog post or click “go live.” It seems simple — no storefront, no inventory — but the courage to show up consistently? That’s another story.
It takes resilience to keep putting yourself out there.
It takes strength.
And Not Just Any Strength
The good news?
We don’t have to muster that strength alone.
We can lean into God’s strength — the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in us.
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” – Psalm 31:24
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13
“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” – Ephesians 6:10
When I feel caught up in my circumstances, I try to shift my focus —
I spend time praising God for who He is: powerful, wise, loving, creative.
And then I ask how I can help someone else.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” – James 4:10
Turning our attention outward — back to God, and back to the people He’s called us to serve — gives us perspective. It helps lighten the load.
“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.” – Psalm 62:8
The Bottom Line
You don’t need to bounce perfectly.
Just keep bouncing.
And when the ground feels shaky, trust the One who never changes.
