10/17/26

I recently heard a minister preach a sermon that he titled: “How can you stand when you don’t understand?” His text was taken from Psalm 37:5-8, where King David was telling those who were trying to live right not to let it bother them when they hear people bragging or wishing they could succeed as they have. In no time they’ll shrivel like grass clippings and wilt like cut flowers in the sun. Get blessed assurance from the LORD and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last, and keep company with the LORD while you go on with your life to do your best. We note that David wrote this late in life, as he tells us in verse 25.

But I wanted to know if psychologists had any analysis on such a subject, and I found out that they view individuals who remain steadfast against strong opposition through a dual lens, categorizing the behavior as either principled resilience or defensive rigidity depending on the person’s underlying motivations and emotional health. While standing firm can signal high integrity, it can also stem from an ego-driven fear of vulnerability. That means that when steadfastness is healthy, psychologists attribute it to strong internal frameworks and high mental fortitude. Also, psychologists found that when individuals focus on expressing their personal values rather than trying to fit into a group, their cardiovascular systems experience the opposition as an invigorating physical “challenge” rather than a threatening stressor.

 As such, true defiance is often driven by a firm alignment with core ethical values, sacrificing social comfort to protect personal or institutional integrity. They also discovered that in family systems theory, these individuals possess a well-defined sense of self, meaning they can remain emotionally connected to others without letting a crowd dictate their beliefs. It has also been established that when people feel their freedom of choice or autonomy is being threatened by a group demand, they automatically resist or do the exact opposite just to regain control. 

I still wasn’t satisfied. So I turned to the Bible. God’s Word teaches that those who remain steadfast and persevere are blessed, will receive the crown of life, and will reap a harvest if they do not give up. That’s why believers are encouraged not to grow weary in doing good, because they will reap a reward at the right time if they do not quit. 1 Corinthians 15:58 tells believers to be steadfast and immovable, knowing that their hard work for the Lord is never useless. Romans 5:3-4 explains that suffering helps build endurance, which then forms strong character and lasting hope. And Hebrews 12:1-2 compares the life of faith to a race that must be run with endurance by keeping focused on Jesus.