In my Army Children’s School days, a few of my classmates and I went to visit a sick friend somewhere in Barnawa, Kaduna. I won’t mention the name of the building because it is still standing and many of you who have been to that state or now live in it will know this particular structure and I don’t want to be arrested because of this story, lol. Anyway, we got there after a long walk but the classmate leading us forgot the specific house. Disappointed, we sat down on the 3rd floor and waited for our confused friend to recollect after we had rained insults on him. Even if he didn’t remember, we had to rest before taking the long walk back to school in the scorching sun of Kaduna. It was amidst that short rest that a few of my classmates dragged us into trouble by throwing particles at some women platting on the first floor.
The women got angry and their outcry alerted the residents of the building who never liked children from my school because of their naughtiness. Within minutes, the building was agog and they were determined to get us. We perceived that one way to get to us was to shut down the gate, so we all headed that direction before it was late. All of us escaped except our friend Emeka. Even at the age of 10, we knew that if the residents got to one of us, we were all in trouble, so we stayed near to see our fate. While our eyes were glued to the gate to fathom what would happen to Emeka, he showed up right behind us laughing. Surprised, we asked how he escaped from over ten grown men with the gate closed. His answer, in my primary school days was just another story of bravery and covered in mystery, but now I know better.
Emeka told us that when he got to the gate, it was closed and a man was waiting there with “koboko” a Hausa word for whip. He couldn’t pass and so he headed for another direction; running more than his legs could carry by the fence of the building. By then, the men were all behind this little 10-year-old boy and determined to get him. Then Emeka saw his breakthrough and it was a water tank. Those of us in Nigeria know how water tanks for storey buildings were built in those days. The container usually stands on a four-legged, 30 foot crane; depending on the storey building. That was the escape route Emeka saw, and when he got to the foot, he began to climb this ‘miracle’ tank that stood erect by the fence of the building. The men stood under the water tank laughing, thinking that Emeka had been trapped. They expected him to climb down when he gets to the top, or they would climb up to get him if he refused to come to them. But Emeka had another plan. He wanted to climb the tank until he was over the fence and then jump to the next compound and escape. The men never expected a-10-years old boy to have the gut to do that. But he did and wowed them. We called him “the brave one” that day because not one of us considered himself bold enough to do that. Unknown to us, Emeka has something working for him and we don’t and that’s THE ADRENAL GLAND – the part of us designed by God specifically for handling situations that look larger than life.
When God created us, He placed on top of our kidneys, a pair of adrenal glands. They are there to provide for us hormones necessary for the production of energy to do the impossible in very difficult situations, like beat up an attacking lion, jump off a moving vehicle in the face of danger, wrestle a bugler, think up unquestionable solutions in tension etc. One of my friends described how he felt when a mad bulldog broke loose and came after him. In his word, “My hair stood erect and for the first time I prayed that the ground should swallow me alive.” Unfortunately, the ground did not swallow him, but he found himself running faster than Usain Bolt. On a normal day, this friend doesn’t like to run and when he does, he’s slow. Something must have happened that day. We all have similar stories to tell when given the opportunity. Sometimes we say God helped us, and I agree. Oftentimes, it’s the adrenalin given to us by God that worked for us.
What causes the adrenal gland to pump through our body? FEAR! When we are in danger, dread rebuke, rejection, the ‘unknowns’ or spend our whole life in anxiety, we secrete hormones the way we would when we see a bulldog, or when we are in Emeka’s kind of condition. Unfortunately, the adrenalin that is produced during those times will not be used except there is a situation to spend the generated adrenalin. So what happens when the adrenalin surges through your body and there is no big situation to combat, like fighting or running away from a bulldog? WE GET SICK! Adrenalin can only be used to conquer seemingly impossible situations like the story of my childhood friend. If not used, it eventually causes high blood pressure, ulcer, headache or a myriad of other diseases. Do you see why those who allow fear and worry to control their lives visit the doctor more often? I believe that is why God admonished us severally in His word to FEAR NOT! Because the moment you start to worry or fear, you put yourself in the hands of numerous diseases.
When next fear or worry sets in, jump up on your feet and fight back, because at that time, we grow bigger than the problems that we stand against. The power is in you. Samson fought a lion and won; David killed a bear with his bare hands and later embarrassed the proud Goliath who looked insurmountable. Paul killed a poisonous snake with his bare hands and Jacob even fought an angel and prevailed. For us Christians, we have more than adrenalin working for us. We have CHRIST. One popular scripture used all the time is, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” It is time to believe these words and use them for our salvation.
Don’t spend your life worrying over your difficulties. Instead, stand up and fight the problems. We have the power to fight and win. IT’S ALREADY IN YOU.
