“Multiply! Do not dwindle away!” Jeremiah 29:6 NLT
What’s the natural and general response when things get tough? You slow down, get weary and bitter, think negative thoughts occasionally and feel hopeless. At least that’s how I’ve seen myself handle some really bad situations.
The quote, “Tough times never last but tough people do”, is very true, but what defines a tough person in tough times?
Is a tough person always optimistic, happy and energetic about everything?
Is a tough person always eager about the future, full of hope and ready to move even with obstacles?
Not quite.
A tough person can be bitter, sad, depressed, negative and slow. But what makes her tough is her ability to recognise what’s going on, shake it off and keep the momentum, wielding all her strength.
When the tribe of Judah was held captive in Babylon, God told them that quote, but in several words. He said, “This is a tough time that won’t last, but this is how you can stay tough”. He told them to keep the momentum, keep living and multiply themselves so they could dominate their spaces.
When things get really tough, our job is not to shrink and stay stagnant. We can still move, multiply ourselves in the lives of others, and dominate so the world sees our good works while shaking off the pessimism, and feeling hopeful that the tough period won’t last forever.
When it looks like your career is moving downhill, your passion for what you do is dwindling and your sense of fulfilment is almost non-existent, don’t die there. Identify what’s going on and look for the medium that will still allow you to keep moving forward so you can dominate.
You can switch jobs, start a new business, move to a new department in your organisation, launch a new product or service, volunteer, or go for a new course. But don’t let your life diminish while you wait for things to get better.
Keep moving.
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