This slideshow was part of a presentation in an adult education seminar in my church. I studied the impact of prayer on resilience for my Doctorate of Ministry.

1. Development of Resilience:
Factors and Religion
By Reverend Cynthia J. Alloway

2. Scriptural Guides
”Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and
depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and
strength to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:7-8)
“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing
that suffering produces endurance, and endurance
produces character, and character produces hope, and
hope does not put us to shame, because God‟s love
has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit
who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

3. Resilience definitions:
 "Resilience" in psychology is the positive capacity of people
to cope with stress and adversity.
 This coping may result in the individual “bouncing back” to a
previous state of normal functioning, or using the experience
of exposure to adversity to produce a “steeling effect” and
function better than expected (much like an innoculation
gives one the capacity to cope well with future exposure to
disease)
 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_resilience

4. Resilience defined:
 an ability to recover from or adjust easily to
misfortune or change.
 The study of resilience, or stress-resistance,
originated in the 1970s with a group of
researchers who directed their attention to the
investigation of children capable of progressing
through normal development despite exposure
to significant adversity.

5. Who in the Bible
demonstrated resilience?
 Abraham, Moses, Joseph,
Job, King David,
Saul/Paul, Sarah, Hagar,
Miriam, Deborah, Esther,
Ruth, Mary. (others?)
 Our best role model is
Jesus Christ.
 He showed us that when
facing evil, resiliency is
best achieved when we
make our lives a pattern of
healing servant-hood.
 „Humans are freed to make a
spirit-guided response to
God and the suffering world;
a response that is not fueled
by greed, fear, or addictions.
 In humility we are to give up
our aspirations to being the
center of the world, to give
up our appetites of grabbing
more than we need, and to
have a desire to love "the
other" so they can flourish.”
(Diogenes Allen)

6. Research results show:
All things being equal,
religious people need
and use fewer health
care services; this is
because they are
healthier, more likely to
have intact families to
care for them, and have
greater social support.
Communities with high
percentage of religious
involvement recover
more quickly from
disasters
Religious involvement
predicts greater longevity
and lower mortality, with
religious attendance
being the strongest
predictor (and associated
with 7-14 years of
additional life)

7. More Research results:
 Religious involvement is related to better
mental health, greater community resilience,
and higher social capital following disasters
(Journal of Community Psychology 2000, 28:169- 186; Annals of
the New York Academy of Sciences 2006, 1094:303-307.)
 Religious involvement predicts less functional
disability with increasing age, and faster
functional recovery following surgery(American
Journal of Psychiatry 1990, 147:758-759.)

8. And more research:
 There is strong research evidence that shows that
“resilience” is shaped by bio-psychosocial and spiritual
factors. (R.R Greene, Resiliency: An Integrated Approach to
Practice, Policy, and Research, (NASW Press: Washington D.C.,
2002).
 The resilience literature suggests that religious and spiritual
beliefs are key elements of resilience.
 In addressing the research question regarding the
relationship of spirituality, religion, and family resilience
among military families, most of the couples indicated
spirituality had a strong influence on their ability to bounce
back from their crises.

9. Psychosocial factors and neurobiological
underpinnings
Facing fears and active coping
Optimism and positive emotions
Cognitive reappraisal, positive reframing and acceptance
Social competence and social support
Purpose in life, a moral compass, meaning and
spirituality

10. Factors for building up
Resilience:
 Religious involvement is associated with positive emotions
(greater well-being, happiness, optimism, hope, meaning
and purpose in life) and higher quality of life. Well-being: Of
research conducted prior to the year 2000, 106 of 131
studies (81%) reported that religious persons
experienced more positive emotions (Handbook of
Religion and Health).
 Religious involvement is related to a lower risk, healthier
lifestyle, particularly among youth. This includes greater
likelihood of wearing seat belts, better sleep quality, regular
vitamin use, regular physical and dental visits, etc.
(Psychological Reports 1991; 68:819-826; Health Education and
Behavior 1998; 25:721-741).

11. Social and Spiritual Support =
Resilience
 Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have
been called according to his purpose… We are more
than conquerors through Him”
 Suffering refines us though not pleasant and can often
be unfair, but as suffering; it causes us to be more
dependent on God in a very deep and personal way.
 We benefit from fellowship with others that occurs
when we reach out in suffering or others reach out to
us.

12. 2 stories of Resilience

13. What Resilience Looks like:

14. How to be Resilient:

15. Ways to Be Resilient
 A combination of factors
contributes to resilience.
Many studies show that the
primary factor in resilience is
having caring and supportive
relationships within and
outside the family.
Relationships that create
love and trust, provide role
models, and offer
encouragement and
reassurance help bolster a
person's resilience.

16. 10 Ways to Build Resilience
1. Assertive Communication - identify needs
2. Change Faulty or Irrational Thinking Habits
3. Healthy Diet and Exercise
4. Expand Your Support System by Helping Others
5. Rational Confident Problem Solving
6. Goal Setting and Time Management
7. Be Body Aware of Tension and Anxiety

17. 3 more ways:
8. Accept Changes, Look Beyond Crises
9. Learn to De-Stress Daily: Relaxation
techniques
10. Daily dose of Humor

19. Prayer for Resilience
Lord, Your Word promises that You “will refresh the weary
and satisfy the faint.” Your Truth nourishes the root of
our hearts, helping us bloom in the desert. Your love
revitalizes us when circumstances threaten to
dehydrate our faith.
When we are surrounded by the dryness of uncertainties,
fears, or change, saturate us with Your presence. Pour
Your peace into every fiber of our being until we radiate
with resilience. No matter where You have us planted,
help us bloom for Your glory. We love You. We need
You. We praise You. In Jesus‟ name, Amen.
 “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” Jeremiah 31:25, NIV