BUILDING SPIRITUAL RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES

When asked about my vision as a minister of the gospel and a called one to the land of Eruwa, I was quick to respond that I desire to control the city’s spiritual and financial climate. I still remember how Grandpa Bishop laughed. It rings in my head to date. 

He looked at me and said, “Son, choose one”. He gave me the reasons: First, if I chased the two, I would not be either a financial or spiritual giant. He told me I would get lost in between. 

The second reason was more humbling. He mentioned that on the journey of the calling, there will be the wilderness season where my heart will be tested. He mentioned that if that season comes and I am chasing the two, I will abandon the spiritual and fall for the convenient, which is the financial. 

He then charged me to focus on the spiritual and watch how my life, impact, and journey would all be affected. The one who controls the spiritual climate is indeed powerful. 

Beloved, a gifted person who lacks training, would not survive when the test of famine comes. Even if the person is called, they will abandon the call when the pressure mounts. Why? If you are used to getting it done the easy way, a little pressure will reveal the void within. 

If you pick up a bottle that is full of water and you keep pressing it, it will keep returning to shape. Why, there is something in it! 

But if you pick an empty bottle and apply the same pressure, you will see that it will cave in after a while. Why? There is nothing in it. 

It was the same pressure, but the impact of pressure was different. Why is this illustration important? What destroys us is not the pressure on the outside. No sir! No ma! It is the emptiness on the inside. 

That is the reason why the devil wants to empty you of the word and prayer and, if possible, of valuable relationships before he applies the blow of pressure that flattens you out. He is a schemer. 

If you are not disciplined with feeding on the word, or you take praying for granted, or you are now offended with everyone that can strengthen you, or you are simply careless and not deliberate with critical voices in your life, the devil has got you in the perfect place where the impact of a single blow will be intense. You better leave that spot in a hurry now. 

Go back to the word. Get back into prayer. Call your pastor or father in the faith now and tell him you have been far! Get back into the community of believers. The famine is close! Famine is close!! You cannot survive famine without family. 

Job’s friends may not be perfect, but tough times are easier when you are not navigating it alone. Isolation makes tough seasons hellish. 

After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.

Luke 15:14 NIV

The famine is a general wave but will hit you badly if your structures are porous. Rebuild your structures now! Wake up before the enemy’s blow hits. Wake up!!

His first need was not food; his first need was family. How did I know this? 

Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

Luke 15:15 NKJV

He looked for relationships first. Isaac blossomed in famine. But do you remember he had a relationship with Abimelech that proved to be helpful? 

May the Lord grant you understanding. Amen!

© temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa