PRESSURE AND VELOCITY EVOLVE INVERSELY. It may not look like it, but the very things that are trying to hold you back or block your way will push or launch you to where you’re supposed to be and do what you’re supposed to be doing.
In 1738, the Dutch-Swiss mathematician Daniel Bernoulli published his aerodynamic force principles, which are the very principles behind the creation of propellers and jet engines powering aviation, and even helped develop rocket engines for space rockets to carry their own oxidizer.
Every good discovery, innovation, invention, or creativity is established on God’s original and divine ideas, principles, and operating system. And a “system” is defined as “a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network.” Or, “a group of interrelated elements that act according to a set of rules to form a unified whole.” When the Bible says, “All things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28), it means according to the system of God, all the things that seem to be oppositions and obstacles are just helping to bring His plan to pass in your life.
In Bernoulli’s formula, principle, or equation in fluid dynamics, he stated that for an inviscid flow, an increase in the speed of the fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure or a decrease in the fluid’s potential energy. And it’s known that the force created by a propeller or jet engine is called thrust, and it’s also an aerodynamic force. And the aerodynamic force on a powered airplane is commonly resolved into three components: Thrust, lift, and drag.
Long before the invention of modern flying and sailing ma-chines, throughout history, sailing has been instrumental in the development of civilization, offering mobility and capacity for fishing, trade, and warfare. History reveals to us that the earliest representation of a ship under sail appears on a paint-ed disc found in Kuwait, dating to the late 5th millennium BC.
Simply, from Bernoulli’s theorem that pressure and velocity evolve inversely, we understand that the wind that comes against an aircraft or sailing ship to create opposition actually helps it move forward or to its destination one way or the other. The other truth is that the aerodynamic force generated by the wind must be well managed to move the aircraft or ship, and in the right direction. In other words, the opposition that pressure and velocity create has to be well managed to favor the desired movement and direction of the plane or ship. Consequently, it’s the same way that opposition: Problems, pain or suffering, disappointments, challenges, or struggles can move you towards your God-given purpose and destiny in life if you manage them well. Understand that without the opposition, there wouldn’t be pressure, and velocity wouldn’t produce the aerodynamic force to move the aircraft or ship, and without opposition (Problems or challenges), you may not get where God wants you to be in life.
What seems to be your oppositions and obstacles are actually helping you move towards the fulfilment of your purpose and destiny, what’s good and better for you.
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31, NIV). This declaration of Apostle Paul is very enthralling, as he was encouraging and testifying out of personal experiences to the Romans, and not only to them, but also to whoever reads the aforementioned scripture.
Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans known as the Book of Ro-mans in the New Testament as genuine as it’s, among many, also contains a revelation that there’s no condemnation for those who accept Christ as their personal Savior and Lord (Romans 8:1). They walk by the Spirit (The Holy Spirit) and not by the flesh (Romans 8:9), and therefore are supported by Him even in their weakness and help them to pray. It also means the same Spirit encourages and assists or supports and makes their sufferings, challenges, struggles, oppositions, and persecutions bearable (Romans 8:26). In effect, Apostle Paul would say in chapter 8 verse 15 of the same book, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba,’ Father.” (Romans 8:15, NIV).
Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Romans while he had-n’t even seen them yet, but later would have the opportunity to go to Rome and fellowship with them. The truth is, even though these precious Roman Christians haven’t seen Paul at the time the letter was written and sent to them, one thing was sure – they have heard about him as someone who was called Saul and persecuted the Church in the beginning, but met with the Master on his way to Damascus to exercise his commission (Acts chapter 9).
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, opposition means “A hostile or contrary action or condition to something, any kind of social or religious group, or not, you have an op-position, you have an opponent. I mean something that’s fighting against your life one way or another, dream or vision, health, peace, happiness, education, family, marriage, relationship, career, business, organization, or ministry. There’s something that may be raising objections to all that you care about.
Whatever may be your opposition, know that God is with you, and you will win and be victorious if you fight the good fight. In fact, your opposition will even help you get to your destination if you properly orient or direct yourself regarding them, because their net force on you will move you forward towards your dream or vision and whatever you’re fighting for in life, “according to His purpose”. (Romans 8:28, NKJV).
Deliverance From Strong Winds
Meteorology, the science that deals with the atmosphere and its phenomena, and especially weather and weather forecasting, teaches that winds are often referred to according to their strength and the direction from which they’re blowing. Short bursts of high-speed wind are called gusts. Strong winds of intermediate duration (around one minute) are called squalls. Long-duration winds have various names associated with their average strength, such as breeze, gale, storm, hurricane, and typhoon. Wind occurs on a range of scales, from thunder-storm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heating of land surfaces and lasting a few hours, to global winds resulting from differences in absorption of solar energy between climate zones on Earth.
Despite the influence and benefits of wind in human life throughout history, in transportation, power source for mechanical work, electricity, and recreation, it can also cause some damage when it becomes strong. Winds such as storms, hurricanes, and typhoons are very hazardous to normal human living. These destructive winds can damage natural and man-made deeds and possessions, including homes, vehicles and structures.
When the wind (air) helping the aircraft or ship move be-comes strong, it becomes a threat to the safe travel of the lat-ter. Similarly, when your opposition becomes too much to bear, it may threaten your life or the safety of your purpose and destiny. But God has promised, He said, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 42:3, NIV). This means no matter how hazardous your situation is, or becomes, God is with you.
Apostle Paul said to the Corinthians, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (I Corinthians 10:13, NKJV).
Storm Fender
The Bible says, “One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” (Luke 8:22-25, NIV).
Life is a journey on which unexpected things happen. The Lord Jesus just finished ministering, going throughout cities and villages preaching the Good News, healing the sick, delivering the demon-possessed, and teaching about the Kingdom of God. It came to pass that on a certain day. He asked the disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. He ministered to the people here and knew there were other businesses He was supposed to take care of at the other side of the lake.
The Bible says, while they were traveling across the lake, suddenly the wind changed into a squall, strong wind, and was raging against them. That’s the strong wind or opposition we are talking about. The disciples were terrified. Certainly, there were Peter and other disciples who were fishermen and knew how to deal with crises on water and wind. I believe they used all their methods, with full knowledge of overcoming strong winds that work against ships, but in vain.
The remarkable thing is, in all the chaos, the screaming, and activities to secure their lives, the Lord was sleeping. You may wonder why he could do that? I did pose the same question to myself. But you see, the Lord sleeping in the midst of trouble (Opposition) means calmness, confidence, faith, and control. He knew the storm, the opposition wasn’t beyond what the disciple could bear or handle. Unfortunately, they couldn’t manage it, and desperately, they shouted out for help by calling the Master, “Master, Master, we are going to drown”!
Now, at that point, at least the disciples did the right thing by not folding their hands and being silent, but they called on Him to do something about their hopeless situation. Have you ever felt that all hope is gone after trying everything to solve a particular problem in your life, but it persists and there’s nothing you can do about it? Well, it’s time to put your expertise aside and call on the Lord Almighty now. The Bible says, the Master got up and rebuked the storm with a word, and immediately the storm subsided, and all was calm. And He asked them, “Where is your faith”? (Luke 8:25, NIV).
In fright and amazement, the disciples asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him”. Yes, that’s the type of God you’re serving, and if your dream/vision is from Him, trust Him that He will calm every strong wind or storm that would come against it to destroy it. He will see that the purpose of your life will overcome every obstacle on your way to its realization. You will not go under, you will not perish, and you will not lose. Just be calm, confident, and have faith to take control over the opposition.
Oppositions, the opposite of the things that God wants for you and the desires of your heart in God, will knock on your door here and there in life. But, rest assured, God will use them for your good or benefit and help you realize your dreams and visions. He will also give you the courage, ability, capacity, and grace to bear them till the end so that He can be glorified, and you become victorious in the end, when all is said and done. However, you need to know how to properly and Godly man-age and use the opposition for your advantage.
Managing Oppositions
Nobody enjoys opposition. Naturally, a human being reacts against anything that goes against his will (desires), expectation, plan, and self-esteem or dignity. When oppositions or things coming against your expectation, hope, desire, plan, and self-esteem knock at your life’s door, and you don’t man-age them efficiently, you may lose control of your purpose and destiny, and in some cases, never fulfill it because a mismanagement of oppositions can generate unprofitable and bad results in your life. But again, if you manage them well, they will work for your good. Therefore, you always need the fol-lowing ingredients in your life, but you need them most when you’re facing challenges or things coming against your purpose and destiny.
• The Word of God: Your Guide
• The Holy Spirit: Your Best Friend
• Prayer: Your Power Connection
• Love: Your Duty
• Patience: Your Breaks
• Courage: Your Measure
• Honesty: Your Character
• Courtesy, Politeness, and Empathy: Your Treat
• Good Advice: Your Supplements
• The Word Of God: Your Guide
While dealing with opposition, you need to be checking the Word of God, the Bible, and carefully listen to God through His Spirit to find out what He’s saying about your situation and how He expects you to handle that particular challenge or op-position. Without consulting the Word of God or listening to God for insight on how to deal with it, you may end up managing the problem wrongly and sin against God, and this could come back and hurt you or negatively affect your purpose and destiny. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt and sojourned in the promised land according to God’s promise, God started giving them His precepts to guide them to the Promised Land (their destination). They faced many challenges and oppositions, and unfortunately, they mismanaged those challenges they faced. Consequently, at some point, God wanted to destroy them, but Moses pleaded with Him on their behalf. God told Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are a stiff-necked people indeed! Let me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make you into a nation stronger and more numerous than they.” (Deuteronomy 9:13-14, NIV). Moses would tell God, “Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’ ” Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.” (Exodus 32:12-14, NIV).
The Children of Israel didn’t know how to manage their op-position or challenges. They started disobeying God and doing things that God prohibited them from doing. They took matters into their own hands, and it nearly destroyed a whole nation from the face of the earth. Despite the plea and sacrifices of Moses on their behalf, they still didn’t learn the principles of handling the problems that were facing them on their way to the Promised Land, which was their destiny and the purpose for which they left Egypt in the first place.
In a concise account, God finally refused some of them the Promised Land, and only the new generation inherited it. The Bible reports, God said, “Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times – not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. Since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.” (Numbers 14:21-25, NIV).
When you’re facing challenges on your way to your purpose and destiny in life, deal with those oppositions according to the will and the word of God. And you can’t know how to handle each situation in a Godly way if you don’t know the Scriptures; therefore, you need to become a student of God’s word to use it as a guide or road map, and in the midst of obstacles, challenges, disappointments, and adversities. Let the Word of God be the foundation and boundaries of your decisions while facing troubles and pursuing your purpose and destiny.
Read more from the book, COURAGE: Fighting the Battles of Your Life