I met with my local Spiritual Director on Monday for our monthly meeting. In the course of our listening together, I named the increasing levels of anxiety, fear, and exhaustion that I am experiencing and those who are in proximity to me are experiencing. Typically, she does not extend practical invitations or instructions, but in rare cases, like this day, Spirit prompts her to do just that.
She shared an article titled “Resilience Targeting” from Psychology Today. In the article, Dr. Chad Briggs speaks to the overwhelming feeling that accompanies many of us today. Rather than dismiss them or offer advice on how to avoid what is making us feel overwhelmed, Dr. Briggs provides what I think is ancient wisdom on how to endure without numbing or detaching from our actual lived experiences.
Reading his suggestions immediately brought to mind the words of the poet in Psalm 1 describing the kind of life possible in God: a life like a tree, firmly rooted by streams of living water, enduring the coming and going of seasons marked by both scarcity and abundance.
Toward the end of the article, he offers some practical wisdom that I have adapted below. This adaptation came as an invitation during my session, which I offer you.
A few warnings:
These suggestions are not panaceas (quick fixes) for our moment, nor are they efficient. I hope they are marked by slowness, hiddenness, and tenderness, all that are required in this moment.
These suggestions are just that, suggestions. I trust each of us to take them into prayer and respond where the Spirit is inviting us.
These suggestions are not strategies for avoiding our own suffering or the suffering of the world. Rather, they are practices that can create space for the Holy Spirit to mold us into the kind of people who can bear our burdens and the burdens of others (I wrote a poem on my substack about this earlier this week).
These suggestions are not intended to be taken on all at once. There is always a danger in changing too much too quickly in the hope of relief, which only adds to the overwhelm. Prayerfully pay attention to what grabs your attention, take that into prayer, and trust what you hear.
Look to the Saints
The Christian story is rich with witnesses who have lived courageously and creatively in the face of profound challenges. Take time to immerse yourself in the lives of the saints—those who, in their weakness, found God's strength perfected. Consider reading the biography or writings of someone like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who resisted tyranny with deep faith, or St. Teresa of Avila, who reformed her community while navigating personal suffering and opposition. Let their lives remind you of what is possible when we are rooted in God’s hope and faithfulness. As Hebrews 12 exhorts us, “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders... fixing our eyes on Jesus.”
Examen Your Strengths and Vulnerabilities
This practice resonates with the Psalmist’s prayer in Psalm 139: “Search me, O God, and know my heart.” The Christian life invites us into self-examination, not as an end in itself but as a means to recognize both the gifts God has entrusted to us and the areas where we rely too much on our own strength. With the Spirit, name the spiritual fruits you see in your life—kindness, joy, patience—and acknowledge where anxiety, pride, or fear make you stumble. Bring these to God in prayer. Recognize that your vulnerabilities are not disqualifications. Remember that your own droughts do not mean you have failed, but that you have stayed close enough to feel the doubt of another. These are invitations to lean more deeply on the Holy Spirit, who perfects His strength in our weakness.
Open Up to the Collective Care of Others
At the heart of Christian faith is the conviction that we do not walk this Jesus way alone. We are members of Christ’s Body, knit together in love. When we feel overwhelmed by the weight of the world, we can take solace in knowing that Christ bears the ultimate burden—and He does so alongside and through the Church. Find your "cloud of witnesses" here and now: a small group, a prayer community, or a congregation where you can share in the mutual bearing of burdens. Galatians 6:2 reminds us, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Seek out those who care deeply about what you care about, and let their faith strengthen yours.
One Step at a Time
Christ does not ask us to carry the entire cross of the world but rather to take up our own cross daily (Luke 9:23). In the face of overwhelming challenges, remember the words of Jesus: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6:34). Focus on the small, faithful steps you can take today. Whether it’s showing kindness to your neighbor, praying for a particular need, or engaging in one act of justice, trust that God weaves your small efforts into His larger purposes.
Practice Our Faith
Deepen the experiential knowledge that you are held and sustained in and with God through practices that open you to God’s presence. This might mean participating in the liturgy, spending time in silence before Scripture, or walking through creation with a heart of gratitude. Christian spirituality is not an escape but a grounding—allowing us to encounter the mystery of God’s love in every moment. Prayer, the sacraments, and contemplation keep us tethered to the truth that our lives are held within God’s eternal purposes.
Connect with Community and Joy
As Christians, we are called not only to community but to the joy of fellowship in the Spirit. Acts 2 paints a picture of the early Church breaking bread together (Eucharist), sharing all things in common, and worshipping with glad and sincere hearts. Joy is not superficial optimism but the deep assurance of God’s love, even in hardship. Whether through a shared meal, a prayer circle, or serving others, find ways to live into this joy with others. Rejoice in the Lord always, as Paul exhorts (Philippians 4:4), for joy is both a gift and a practice.
Display Reminders of God’s Faithfulness
Surround yourself with visible reminders of those who have shaped your faith and God’s ongoing work in your life. A cross, an icon, or a collection of photographs of loved ones can serve as a sacramental presence—pointing you back to the God who is faithful through all generations. As the Israelites carried stones of remembrance after crossing the Jordan (Joshua 4), let these tangible signs anchor you in the memory of God’s sustaining grace.
Take Breaks from it All
Sabbath is God’s gift to His people—a reminder that we are not defined by our productivity. When the burdens feel too heavy, heed Christ’s invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Rest can take many forms—reading poetry, spending time in nature, or simply sitting in silence. Whatever it looks like, let it be a reminder that resilience is not about endless striving but about abiding in the One who renews our strength.
In all these practices, let Christ be your model and your anchor. He shows us what it means to live resiliently, with love, hope, and faithfulness, even in the face of the greatest trials.