Resiliency and Faith
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. - Helen Keller
Strength. Fortitude. Courage. Perseverance. These qualities are universally desired, yet when adversity strikes, it becomes evident that not everyone possesses them. As Helen Keller famously demonstrated, such traits do not emerge from a life of ease. Born blind and deaf, she faced immense hardships until her dedicated teacher, Anne Sullivan, helped her communicate with the world—despite her inability to see, hear, speak, or read. Through Sullivan’s guidance, Helen developed a unique language—sign signals that unlocked her brilliant mind and allowed her to share her gifts with the world.
Recent advances in medical science are beginning to recognize resilience as a vital factor in both coping with and overcoming illness. And unsurprisingly, numerous studies show that a life of faith significantly enhances resilience, giving Christians a remarkable ability to withstand and triumph over challenges.
Research by Bryant and Wong in 2013 demonstrates that faith, particularly Christian spirituality and positive religious coping, is strongly linked to reduced psychological distress. This connection has been consistently observed among survivors of child abuse, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, community violence, and war, highlighting the significant mental health benefits of spiritual faith.
Moreover, even among adolescents, spiritual well-being—characterized by having a positive, loving relationship with God—correlates with better depression outcomes compared to those who lack faith.
These findings extend beyond mental health. For example, individuals practicing the Christian faith tend to achieve better health outcomes, such as in cases of congestive heart failure, when all other factors are equal. This evidence underscores the essential role of faith and spirituality in fostering resilience, improving mental health, and contributing to overall well-being.
Research indicates that for Catholics facing serious cancer, spirituality and religiosity are closely linked to improved physical, emotional, and social functioning, as demonstrated by Majda and colleagues. Their faith appears to significantly enhance coping abilities. Similarly, in palliative care for terminal illnesses, Delgado-Guay found that Christians who identify as spiritual experience less spiritual and physical pain than those without faith. These findings strongly suggest that faith and spirituality play a crucial role in alleviating suffering and promoting well-being.
Mathew et al demonstrated that church attendance acts as a powerful safeguard against the adverse effects of trauma, PTSD, and even tobacco use. Evidence even extends to the immune system; for instance, recent research indicates that a spiritual life can help regulate an overactive immune response, as seen in Sjögren’s syndrome. These studies highlight an undeniable connection between Christian faith and resilience.
A recent analysis of several studies has put it all together. A 2022 meta-analysis by Schwalm et al., which included 34 similar studies, found that spirituality and religious belief correlate with greater resilience. Most of those studied were Christians.
It's clear: faith doesn't eliminate disease but equips us with essential coping skills to manage illness more effectively. Our Lord does not promise us easy times, but He assures us of His constant presence through every challenge. Medical science is only now beginning to fully recognize and understand this profound truth.
Bryant and Wong. Faith to move mountains: religious coping, spirituality, and interpersonal trauma recovery. Am Psychologist 2013 Nov;68(8):675-84. doi: 10.1037/a0034380.
Mathew, et. Al. Trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms, and tobacco use: Does church attendance buffer negative effects? J Community Psycho. 2020 Sep;48(7):2364-2374. doi: 10.1002/jcop.22420. Epub 2020 Aug 13.
Modis, et al. Spirituality is associated with immune parameters and disease activity in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a cross-sectional study. Sci Rep. 2024 May30; 14(1):12473. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-62801-w.Cilona, et. Al. Spirituality and heart failure: a systematic review. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2023 Nov; 35(11):2355-2361.doi: 10.1007/s40520-023-02557-x. Epub 2023 Sep 22
Delgado-Guay, et al. Association between Spirituality, Religiosity, Spiritual Pain, Symptom Distress, and Quality of Life among Latin American Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Multicenter Study. J Palliat Med. 2021 Nov;24(11):1606-1615. doi: 10.1089/jpm . 2020.0776. Epub 2021 Apr 12.
Aggarwal, et al. Religiosity and spirituality in the prevention and management of depression and anxiety in young people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry. 2023 Oct 10;23(1):729. doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-05091-2.
Schwalm, et al. Is there a relationship between spirituality/religiosity and resilience? A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies J Health Psychol. 2022 Apr;27(5):1218-1232. doi:10.1177/1359105320984537. Epub 2021 Jan 26.