Resiliency and Prayer

According to the American Psychological Association, “Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress — such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or workplace and financial stressors. It means ‘bouncing back’ from difficult experiences” [1]. While today we have much research regarding what supports children and teens to be resilient, the following statistics highlight just how many are failing to “thrive.” A study conducted by Ghandour, Sherman, Vladutiu, Lynch, Bitsko, and Blumberg (2018 as cited in CDC) states that “approximately 1.9 million” children in the United States “have diagnosed depression” [2]. Findings by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics (2017 as cited in HHS) reveal that “Depression is the most common mental health disorder, affecting nearly one in eight adolescents and young adults each year” [3]. Lastly, research by the National Center for Health Statistics (2010 as cited in CDC) shows how “From 1988–1994 through 2005–2008, the rate of antidepressant use in the United States among all ages increased nearly 400%” [4]. In addition, any young individuals developing unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as self-medicating their pain through drug and alcohol use, becoming overly dependent in their relationships, or continuing patterns of generational dysfunction, is too many. We have to want more for them.

It is up to every parent to make the decisions that he or she feels are best to support his or her children's and teens’ resiliency, and there are many wonderful resources, approaches, and professionals to help achieve this. Yet, one of the greatest keys to being resilient and being able to transcend circumstances is prayer. Not only does it support individuals' to reach their highest potential, it enables them to acquire some serious “grit by grace,” that at one point or another, we all need in terms of strength and perseverance. In a high-stress world, prayer is paramount.

What is one step you can take today to instill prayer in their lives? How can you encourage them to "disconnect" in order to connect through prayer? If you are not a praying person, how do you encourage your children and teen to embrace solitude so that they may reap the benefits?