“WHEN THE PRESSURE RISES AND YOU WANT TO QUIT”

We have just spent about two minutes at home when Irewamiri burst out: “I don’t think I can go on with this task. It is so demanding especially when you have to work with difficult people. Darling, I am sorry. I may just have to quit”.

I sat down on the same spot and kept looking at my wife. I smiled. She said, “Why are you looking at me that way?” I said to her, “What you are complaining about reminds me of who you used to be in the early days of our marriage”. She agreed and then we began to examine why we both are thinking of quitting.

If you have ever embarked on a vision before and somewhere in between, it becomes so hard and you want to quit, then this is for you.

The first thing we noticed was simple- our devotion to a personal time of prayer and study of the Word had become weak. Check every time you reacted emotionally, you will notice that it was a weak moment spiritually.

The challenge did not become bigger. Your spirit only had become weaker. In marriage, for instance, your most vulnerable moments will be times when career, financial and domestic demands have risen without an equivalent rise in your spiritual appetite.

Once you are drained spiritually, you will begin to make bad decisions. When your car beeps red, you do not abandon the car in anger. You simply find the next gas station to refuel.

The load you can bear emotionally is directly proportionate to your spiritual strength. Have you ever been surprised how you snap so easily at issues that are so minute?

Think a bit about these words from the book of Daniel: And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High. Daniel 7:25 KJV

Your adversary knows that the best time to bring strange thoughts is when you are drained spiritually. When did Delilah ask Samson about his secret and at what moment did Samson cave in? When he was already spiritually weak.

Jesus showed us the secret of men who do not quit. Jesus (imagine Jesus our Lord and Saviour) told his inner circle that he was sorrowful unto death. Then he requested that they stand in the gap for him. Jesus was thinking of quitting. He did not want to carry on the assignment. It was tough.

But the secret lies in these six words, “And He went a little further…” (Matt. 26:36). What did he do when he went a little further? He did not go to face the issue just like that. He fell on his face and prayed. Jesus knew that when you are spiritually drained, you will take thoughts that are strange.

Think about this: If a random person meets you on the road and tells you that you are a stupid, good-for-nothing, failure as a man. Would you take it? No! You get angry at such audacity. But when you are spiritually weak, your thoughts will suggest the same to you and you begin to process it till you accept it.

If you will last on any journey or vision, ensure that you do not get spiritually weak. If the walls of defence are tampered with, the devil can attack with his weakest weapons and still score cheap goals.

We went on our knees that evening and repented for allowing our tasks to take us away from our devotion to Prayer and the Word. We returned with the strength to face the tasks ahead.

I pray for you- Your strength is renewed. You will return and finish well. Amen.