In the first part of this series, we took a look at being
consistent and considered that the first area to focus on in attempting to live
consistently will be to bridge the gap between what you know and what you truly
believe. We established that your life begins to take shape soon after this gap
is closed. In the second part, we discussed the importance of starting with
what you have and from where you are, and letting God’s help meet you in
action.
The next step then at living a consistent life will be to
stick with what you are doing. I do not in any way mean that you cannot pivot
into something else, but the truth is that many pivot too quickly because they
lack the staying power to get things off the ground. When you don’t stay long
enough with something, you may not even know whether pivoting is the right
thing to do or not. Sometimes, it could be that you are supposed to pivot, but
the time has not yet come for that pivot, and at other times it could be that
you are not supposed to pivot at all.
One story that quickly comes to mind is the story of Kenneth
E. Hagin, he had pastored for some years, and then he pivoted into field
ministry. Although, God wanted him to go into field ministry, the time had not
yet come for him to move at the time he first pivoted, and surely the experience wasn’t
so great. In fact, he had to return to pastoring again for a few more years
before finally God’s appointed time came, and this time he had to be sure it
was time before he finally pivoted.
My point in giving this story is that many young people have
only just set out on an assignment yesterday, perhaps in ministry or business,
and because things are not yet working out as quickly as they had anticipated,
they are already thinking of the next idea to jump on, when in reality they should
be digging in and taking root in what they have set their hands upon to do now.
Don’t be the type of person who is quick to jump on something else other than
what you are doing now simply because, that new thing looks like it has great
prospects or simply because you are experiencing some challenges with what you
are doing now. Always remember that whatever will succeed will still require
some time and hard work to build, and if you will put in that measure of work
where you are now, it will yield to you.
In Luke’s gospel chapter 13, verses 7 – 9, Jesus told a
parable of a fig tree that had been planted for three years without bearing any
fruit, and when it was suggested that it should be cut down, the dresser
appealed to the master of the vineyard that that it should be given one more
year with proper care and then cut down if it still bears no fruit after that. You
may just have to hang in a little longer to begin to see the fruits of your
work there. The interesting thing is that once you tend what you are doing to
the point that it begins to bear fruits, that fruit bearing process is continuous,
many times requiring only minimal effort. I encourage you to stick with whatever you are
doing now a little longer, don’t give in just yet, one more year could be all that
is needed, one more year and you may find fruits there.
Shalom
Nice!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the work!
This make a lot of sense. But my question is, if what you re doing right now is not getting you any closer to what you really wanted to do is there any point still hanging on or enduring?
ReplyDeleteIf you are certain that what you are doing right now is not getting you any closer. then it may pivot. However, what you will find there, is that you have gathered some valuable experience from what you were doing that will be helpful to you in other future endeavors. Cheers
DeleteVery timely Word. Thank you and God bless!
ReplyDeleteWords of wisdom, many thanks sir.
ReplyDelete