The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.” ― Randy Pausch
I once had a manager who, it felt, was out to make my life miserable. Ever had one of those? You see, he was a micro-manager who needed to know all you were doing, how you were doing it and why you were doing it. He operated a system that always took and gave back nothing in return. Over time, I started learning how to counter his system and make life miserable for him as well. He got a hard time from me once I learned his insecurities. Well, two miserable people at a job does not make for a good work environment. Over time, I felt weary and determined to quit, however I had a milestone that was fast approaching and so I thought, if I could only wait till this milestone arrives, if only I could wait this out. It was a very difficult time but I determined to wait it out. Several people promised me employment of which I was ready to take but I had to wait a month or two for this to pan out. This promise of new work also helped me persevere.
I arrived at my milestone and prepared to put in my 2 weeks notice. Before I walked in to put in this notice, I called a colleague of mine whom I revered and was advised to wait it out some more – to persevere. It so happened that as I persevered, God opened up a new door for me. Another manager came (not knowing the ordeal I was dealing with), and asked me to join a team I had once tried to join with my own strength, but couldn’t at the time. Literary, someone from another department offered me my dream work and implored me earnestly to take it. Wow! This testimony taught me that God isn’t lying when He says:
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak , and not lie : though it tarry , wait for it; because it will surely come , it will not tarry . – Habakkuk 2:3
Here are the three tips which will help you persevere:
1. Look to the future: The fact that I had a milestone approaching, helped me persevere. It also helped that other people promised me employment and so I kept looking forward to them.
2. Seek wise counsel: I was determined to quit and the last thing I wanted to hear was someone telling me to stick it out. I knew there was a chance my wise colleague would ask me to wait a while, and so I didn’t want to call at first. I succumbed when I remembered that I needed to hear the truth even when it is hard.
3. Trust in God: Believe with all your heart the scripture:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
As long as you are in the game, you have a chance. Persevere my dear friends. Persevere. Your God will come and save you.