Remembering Our Strengths | Rhombus University

Click the image to view the full talk or you may read a full transcript of the talk below.

Speaker 1:
Let us pray, and we’ll get started, okay? Dear gracious, loving Father God, Lord, I just thank you so much for every person in this room, or every person who will come to see this, Lord. Life may be particularly different, hard right now, maybe many of us may not feel seen, safe or heard, or maybe some of us are grieving.

But Lord, you see us, you are a God who sees, who hears, who does. Lord, you will never leave us nor forsake us. So amidst everything, all things that may be happening in this world, Lord, we thank you for being a God who is compassionate. You know all of our fears and our groanings, but thank you for Jesus. Because of him, Lord, we have hope in this life. But until that day, may you raise each one of us to be men, women who love you, who defend the brokenhearted and act against injustice, Lord.

May we not repay evil with evil, but repay evil with good, as with going forth in this fight of faith with the armor that you give us, and the strength that you give us in you. So Lord, we thank you so much for you, I pray that you would bless this time and you speak through me, and may we be an encouragement to one another. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Now, before we start, our seminar today will be composed of a book reading, an art or a written activity, and some deep breathing. But before we go on, we have a couple of rules so that we can ensure that this is a safe space for us to interact.

All right, so today we’ll be talking about resilience. I’m sure many have heard of this word before, but write down right now on your paper, is it possible for us to write down what resilience means to us? What resilience means to us? On top of your paper.

So in the context of this particular presentation, we’ll be describing resilience as the ability to bounce forward from the hardships of life. Can we do this motion altogether to bounce what? Forward from the hardships of life.

And particularly in these times, I truly believe God has equipped each one of us in his power and his strength, and it’s through him that we’re able to go forth. So I just hope that at this time it’ll be a period for us to encourage one another and remind each other of the strength we have in God.
So this is our first step, our book reading. Today, we’ll be reading a book called ‘What Do You Do With A Problem’ by Kobi Yamada.

Speaker 2:
Okay.

Speaker 1:
Okay. Now, okay.
I don’t know how it happened, but one day I had a problem. I didn’t want it. I didn’t ask for it. I really didn’t like having a problem, but it was there.

I start to worry about my problem. What if it swallows me up?
What if it takes away all of my things?

It’s at this page we’re going to be talking about worry. One of the things about resilience is that we also need to be aware of when problems arise, and what happens to us in our bodies. Even though we may not always be cognitively aware of the stressors or how much it’s affecting us in our minds. Oftentimes our body really does feel things, the worry that may come with the problem. So this is just a quick check for you just to notice, just some key pointers in your body, how our bodies respond to stress.

And I’m just going to go through a checklist. And these are just some features for you to notice if, hey, I get stressed. Are these some the things that happen in my body? So first, do you have thoughts that race in your mind? Does your heart feel like, does your heart beat faster? Does your heart pound? Does it feel like it’s pounding? Do your hands get sweaty? Does your stomach hurt? You feel like you can’t eat? Maybe it’s harder to focus? Maybe you have trouble sleeping? And maybe it’s sometimes you just get bothered more than usual?

I know, for me, even though I may not always feel cognitively, that I’m stressed. I feel it when I start scratching myself and I stop, and you just notice it. That’s one of the things that I do when I worry. But it is good to just be aware of how our body responds to worry. So that once we can identify the problem, we are able to have the tools to face it.And your turn to read this page.

I wish it would just disappear. I tried everything I could to hide from it. I even found ways to disguise myself. But it still found me.

I couldn’t take it anymore. “This has to stop!” I declared.
We actually joined our friend in seeing that together.”This has to, again, this has to stop!” I declared.
Maybe I was making my problem bigger and scarier than it actually was. After all, my problem hadn’t really swallowed me up or attacked me.
And get ready.

So even though I didn’t want to, even though I was really afraid, I got ready and I tackled my problem.
So what did he do? He got, and then he got ready, and then he tackled the problem.
My problem held an opportunity.

It was an opportunity for me to learn and to grow. To be brave. To do something.
Let’s actually say that altogether. It was an opportunity for me to learn, to grow, and to be brave. So inside that was an opportunity for us to learn and to grow and to be brave.

So now I see problems differently. I’m not afraid of them anymore, because I know their secret.
I think, can we read this one last page altogether one more time?

Every problem has an opportunity for something good. You just have to look for it.
I know many of us may not be children anymore. But this is a children’s book, and I think there’s something beautiful about it, something so simple. But how it reads to each one of us. During the book reading, we have a young friend who encountered a problem. This, in the moment… When… How did the young boy face his problem first? What did he do? He tried to shoo it away. And then he began to, what? He began to worry.

And I hope in that page we were also able to be mindful of what happens to our bodies when we get worried. But he had a plan. What did he do just before the problem? He got ready and then he faced the problem.

Well, so that’s an indicator for us as well. In this journey of resilience. First, we have to notice the hardship. We have to notice the problem and how our body is reacting to it. We prepare in the ways, we prepare to face it with the tools that God gives us. And then we learn to tackle that problem. So I know for us particularly, we’re living it in a time of very, very different things happening in the world.

Many may, many of us may be grieving, repercussions from the pandemic. Maybe we’re grieving on not being able to see our friends or facing feeling lonelier. Maybe we’re grieving in our moments and occasions that should have happened during this time, but it didn’t.

But as this book says, and as it’s a message for our young friends, it’s a message to us too, that with every hardship really does come an opportunity. And I really believe that even now, this is a space and an opportunity for us to encourage and build each other up, and remind each other of the strengths that we have.

So again, spirit of the Lord, the resilience to the ability to bounce forward from the hardships of life.
And next, we’re actually going to do an activity for us to remember the strengths that he gives us, the tools that help us to be resilient. And if you have your materials ready, from the paper to your coloring items or your pens.

And I know I wrote most, you can write or draw, but please feel free to make this shield as beautiful as you can. Because this is also a part of the armor of God that God gives, as these trials come.

So at this time, if you can make your shield with six sections.
So in space one, we’re going to write words that describe God and our favorite verse or motto.
And in space two, we’re going to write words that describe our strengths.
And in space three, we’re going to draw or write something that we enjoy doing, something that you do for self care.

And in space four, we’re going to draw write people that we love.
And in space five, we’re going to draw or write a place that helps us feel safe.
And in space six, we are going to draw or write something we would like to be in the future. Whether you are in high school, or whether just the people that we are always growing to be. Whether it be in terms of career, in terms of our own personal growth and character. How it, just think of how you would like to be remembered. What drives you for.

Remember, this is a space where we can encourage one another. So we will have a time of being able to share these things or even pray for these things, or afterwards.

So for those that are in and tuning in, typically, I was, this space was supposed to be, or it’s geared to be more interactive. But in space one, if you feel comfortable enough. Maybe just to say one word or one verse that it describes God for you. Or maybe for some of us who may not believe in God. Maybe your favorite motto, something that builds you up. Words that build us up, or its something that we can be mindful of, with words that build us up.

So for me, I personally describe God as a father, like many of you. But I truly believe that He is a healer as well, and He is a lover. These are the three ways that I love and connect to Him most. And for me, one of my favorite Bible verses or passages is Ephesians three, 14 to 21. But I’m not going to read all of it.
But when I’m, I feel wary, When I feel anxious, the things I want to remember about God is just how powerful He is, and how in control He is. So for me, Ephesians three, 20 says, not to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we can ask or think. To Him, he’s a glory and power for all generations to come. To me, I find a lot of comfort, and that God is able to do far more than we think.

Is it okay if I share? I have one of the participants share. Is it okay if I shared with everybody else? All right, just give me a thumb up. And he says, The Lord is my strength and my shield in Him will I trust. Wow. Thank you so much for sharing those beautiful words. I love that. I love that.

All right, so at this time I want you to look at your shield. This is, God doesn’t allow us to go in this fight of faith alone. He is with us. He is our defender. He’s our God. He’s our father, and He’s going to be the ultimate one who heals, and who heals this world.

So at this time, I just want you to just be mindful of these protective factors, as we may face adversity. Be mindful of your own strengths. I just want you to not blame or criticize, but just be mindful of the strength that God gives you and to celebrate them. In that shield, find a space where, particularly special for you. I want you to have that image in your mind, whether it be a person, whether it be a verse, whether be words. I just want you to have that image. And then we’ll be going to our next exercise.
So like our friend in the book, he noticed the problem. He prepared, he got ready, and then he tackled the problem. So right now we have a shield that will help us to face what’s before us. And one of the ways that we can also prepare our mind, our bodies for whatever challenges may approach us, actually for deep… It’s to breathe.

Because when we’re anxious, because when worry consumes us, we forget to breathe even though it’s a natural part of our body. So a part of remembering is also to breathe. Because the Lord even teaches us to be still and know that he is God. There’s beauty in stillness, and there’s truth in stillness. So we’re going to be practicing some of that right now. This is your shield that we are going to do together.

So right now, we’re going to just practice remembering to breathe, particularly when our heart rate is up. Learning to go into a period of deep breathing really helps us to calm our minds and calm our hearts. And God gives us these tools. Just in this moment, we’re just going to remember to just breathe in for two seconds, hold it for four, and let it out for six. Great job everyone. Breathe in. Breathe out. One more time. Just remember to breathe. Breathe in. Breathe out. Thank you.

And that’s one of the first steps. Just remember 2-4-6. Just remember to breathe in and let it out slowly. And these numbers are, you can alter to whatever fits, whatever you feel like is most comfortable for your body.

But right now, we’re going to take it little one step further. Remember that imagery? That we remembered from our resilient shields? Because, okay. So if you feel comfortable, feel free to close your eyes, and just get comfortable in your chair. Okay? I’ll be doing this exercise with one of these clothes, because that works for me. But if that does not feel safe for you, please don’t force your body to do anything that’s, that you feel is a threat or is unsafe. So please just get comfortable in your seat first. Again, we’re going to breathe in. Breathe out. Focus your tension on your breath, how your chest fills up, and let it out.

This time, I want you to squeeze your hands really, really hard as you breathe, and let it go. Let the blood flow. These are your hands that God has given for you to go out into the world. These are hands that touch. These are hands that heal. These are the hands that build. We must thank God for these hands.
And next, I want you to keep breathing. But this time, squeeze your feet as hard as you can. Let them go. The blood flow, your body. These are yours, the feet that God has given, so we can be his light to the world. These are the feet that will help you keep going. And let us thank the Lord God for it is He who goes before us.

And lastly, I want you to just hover your neck as you breathe. Remember to breathe. Let your neck roll. Keep going. Relax your neck as you breathe. And then gently, at a time safe for you. We’re going to be still just be mindful of God, our bodies, even if our minds wander loose, bring it back.

At this moment, I want you to remember that picture or that word, that image from your shield. Be still and know that He is God. And remember this image. Remember, whatever drives you for, as we keep going in this fight of faith.

Lastly, I just want you to bring your hands to your heart. Keep breathing. Just thank yourself for being here. We can use pat, thank yourself. Thank yourself for being here. Tell yourself that you are resilient. You are His child. He’ll never leave you. Okay? All right. And at any time, please feel free to open your eyes. At a time, space, time that works for you, that feels safe for you.

Yeah, and thank you all for joining me today. And even though this exercise may have been uncomfortable for some people. Thank you for just, trying. I just hope it was a reminder of remembering God and his strengths within you. And yes, I hope this shield will help us as we go forth and whatever the world brings us today. Okay? So.

Oh, thank you for joining me. I think I’m a little over. But if you have any questions? Or if you feel like, yeah, if it was hard for you to do the shield or if you feel like you need more references? Please feel free to stay behind and leave your email. There are also consultations with therapists at two o’clock or at two 30, after the seminars. And so, those resources are available to you as well. And thank you so much for joining our Family Conference and this seminar. Thank you.

Download Handout HERE

Start Here

Complete this form and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours

Remembering Our Strengths (for Ages 12-17) by Esther Park

Download Handout HERE