Of Quick Fixes & Making Progress

Over the years, I have seen a principle that has worked in bringing progress to a life, ministry, business, family etc. I have seen in it work in my own life that has helped me to relax and work from rest.

It is the simple principle of “little drops of water make an ocean” …or seed time and harvest time …or sowing and reaping …or showing up consistently …or every little effort adds up …or staying power etc…I believe you get the gist now.

I have tried to communicate this in counselling many times but most people don’t want to get it, they want a quick fix.

I have realised however that quick fix doesn’t bring lasting solution. It doesn’t bring lasting progress.

Any organization that is strong and have been relevant for many years is a product of patiently building the blocks over the years.

They take their time to build. They make mistakes quietly, correct it quietly and move on. They try out so many things, they adjust and adjust. They are so flexible and open to simple changes while still faithful to their core.

They don’t make foolish radical changes all the time. They are consistent. They are predictable. They are known for something definite and at the same time they are so dynamic, making them relevant through the years.

They have also recognised their limitedness. They can’t be everything to every body. They have carved out their identity and they never have a feeling of being inferior to another. A quality that make them collaborate easily without unhealthy rivalry.

If you are thinking about companies that are like this already without me mentioning names, some are already coming to your mind.

Now imagine YOURSELF as an organization.

Your making progress should not also be a quick fix matter. While there will be times that you will need quick fix intervention but never base the yardstick of your progress on it. Let them serve their purpose of shaking you up a bit to focus on the most important things in your life.

Seat down, patiently plan what you can plan where you are right now and act on it. I know we teach setting goals, purpose, vision etc, you should do all that but after you have done it, ask yourself where can I start planting right now…

I want a garden of oranges, where should I plant the first one now? Plant it and nurture it. You may see your friends with several gardens of oranges, celebrate them but go back to your work and nurture your own garden.

If you have lost years to your foolishness or ignorance, don’t resort to quick fixes. The wise way to respond is to recognize where you missed it and from that point, chart your life into a beautiful future. There is something you can do right now.

Even when you meet God after spending years in riotous living, there is no restoration that can take away the scars but God will take you from that point and make your life beautiful. There are no quick fixes.

You want to be a man of prayer for example, pray every day in your own way, anywhere you see people praying join them, every opportunity you have to pray, pray…it will add up.

But if you just want a quick fix of 100 hours stretch in prayers and when you are done you are a man of prayer…after which you go back into not praying for the next 30 days…you are a joker. Those prayer stretch are interventions that will shake you up and position you to take up your daily prayer life.

There is no making of progress in any area of life without staying power. Nothing grows suddenly. It takes patience, grit and consistent nurturing.

This can also be applied to when you are being raised by someone that you submit to, you feel that in one month, the person should give you everything and then you move on…that is the reason, you are not growing. Progress takes time.

You hear about the latest voice in town, you jump ship again and that person is the best thing since slice bread…after a while you are tired again, you are going to the next one. Your growth pattern now looks like amoeba.

If you don’t learn how to stay with things, you may not know progress and strength.

So where are you right now? Are you confused or dissatisfied? Are you desirous of progress? First of all calm down. Define what you want prayerfully and take the first little step that you can take now and then take the next one…and the next one.

“So that you do not become lazy, but that you be imitators of those who through FAITH and STEADFAST ENDURANCE inherit the promises.” Heb 6:12

©Omoniyi Temitope Mayowa
Email: topeomoniyi@gmail.com
Website: www.otmwrites.com