It’s a strange paradox: the very thing that could bring relief is what we resist. Like when someone suggests, “Maybe you should talk to them,” and suddenly that feels like the worst idea ever.
It’s not always the idea we resist, but what it requires of us . We believe that vulnerability, humility, or stepping out of our comfort zone is not good for us. We try to avoid. That “cost” can feel heavier than the relief we’re being offered.
I’ve been pondering resistance. Often, I’ve noticed that when advice/solution is given too directly, it’s almost as if it can’t land. It can feels like a brick wall, even before we make one small step. Why? Maybe because direct advice can feel like pressure before we are ready to receive it.
It got me thinking, I bet this is why Jesus spoke in parables. One, so that we may be able to hear Him with less resistance. And two, He meets us where we are at, gently guiding us, patiently loving us enough to allow us to wrestle with truth and come to the realization ourselves.
Wow, if we could follow His lead, how differently we might show up in the lives of others.
Before we look at how to change our resistance, I want to highlight what is happening in our minds when it comes to resistance. Of course, we have free will and ultimately, we can choose to listen and obey, but sometimes it is not that obvious.
Resistance, at times, has a way of disguising itself as logic. It sounds reasonable, but underneath it, there can often be something deeper. Something like pride, fear, past hurt, or simply the discomfort of change. I think we all experience these on some level in some way throughout our lives. Consciously, or unconsciously resistance can interfere in our lives.
Scripture has a way of gently (thankfully) exposing our own tendencies towards resistance. As Christians, we are told to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2), which sounds inspiring until you have to let go of the old ways that we’ve grown quite attached to. We are called to “take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5), which sounds noble until you notice how many thoughts would prefer to remain unchecked. See how sneaky resistance can be?
If resistance is often our first response, resilience then is what can be formed when we choose not to stop there. This change can often feel unnatural. It takes work and it can be uncomfortable. It takes faith and trust in our Savior to assist us in this new behavior. And the truth is, this type of growth rarely feels secure. The path to healing often runs straight through the places we’d rather avoid. And yet, again and again, that’s where the grace of God meets us.
Obedience, despite what we are feeling, often can produce positive outcomes.
The more we practice obedience instead of avoidance, the more we are willing to engage what’s hard. Working on change is a skillset that takes time to develop. Resilience can transform you. Literally. Your brain can reshape its pathways towards obedience and away from resistance.
Neuroscience explains this well. Your brain is being rewired through neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to change). Repeated thoughts strengthen neural pathways. The more often you choose God’s truth over distortion, the more those pathways become your brain’s default rather than its detour.
My favorite example is a forest and hiking. The first time I go to an unknown forest to hike, I look for the markers, to make sure I’m on the right path, but I’m unsure, so I’m really looking for those signs. The second time, I might recognize a few signs and where they are located. I may even remember a few overlook views, but I may not know where exactly I am. By the third, fourth, umpteenth time, I now know the route, and I can even take a friend without getting lost.
We too can do this with resistance and rewiring our brains to resilience.
This is why practice matters so much. Not perfection, but practice. Repetition is what turns intention into transformation. Perseverance is part of the formation.
The saying “practice makes perfect” might actually be true as long as you’re practicing what God outlines and not negative, sinful behaviors.
From a human flourishing perspective, as your thinking shifts, so does your emotional health. As your emotional health stabilizes, your relationships deepen. As your relationships strengthen, your sense of meaning, purpose, and connection grows. And slowly, it happens. What once felt like effort becomes instinct.
This is holistic change:
Your mind learns new patterns.
Your brain builds stronger pathways.
Your behavior becomes more aligned with truth.
Your relationships become more stable and life-giving.
Your soul has the potential to flourish.
That is resilience. Not the absence of struggle, but the presence of strength shaped over time. Built thought by thought, choice by choice, day by day.
From a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) perspective, this shift happens as you consistently interrupt old thought patterns and replace them with healthier, truth-based ones. Each time you choose a better response, you are not just “trying harder”, you are training your mind.
Stay with it. Repeat the practice. Choose better. And when resistance shows up, don’t just fight it, pay attention to it. It may be pointing directly at the place God wants to grow you. Stay with Him there.
Here are some scriptures that reference the path towards resilience and away from resistance.
“Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5–6
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13
References:
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (2001).
