When you resist your natural impulses, you quell your soul with power. The natural thirst of the soul yearns for more. It desires. But you must douse the flames of desire with the water of purity.
For example, you might eat a lot. It is scientific that after eating, you get what one would call the ‘itis’. That in itself is the opposite of a scientific term, but an important made up word. It is where one gets lazy. And with that laziness you lose out on benefits. That desire to eat leads to other desires, after you ate giving you an urge to do what? It gives you the urge to do nothing. Thereafter, the desire to sleep kicks in. Little does one know that resistance is the key.
In the religion of Islam, resistance has another word. It’s called fasting. Fasting is going without food, but it also implies lacking of your soul’s natural inclinations. You fast for your soul, because you’re purifying it. By making an absence of what you’re body is naturally inclining to, you give a sense of purity to your heart. You’re removing it from evil.
“Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, ‘I am fasting.” –Prophet Muhammad (SWS)
It guards one from sexual impulse and anger impulse. It protects you from extremes. It’s because of this lack that you gain power. Endeavor to make your soul flawless, and know that fasting is a shield for it to do so.
When something comes at you, you don’t let it get to you. Don’t let the seeds of evil plant in your heart. Resist. Fight the urge to fight back. Fight the negativity within. Don’t even let those seeds come near your heart. Deflect all calamities.
The Prophet Muhammad (SWS) said to deflect calamities, and not to absorb them.
"The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant, which the wind bends it sometimes and some other time it makes it straight. And the example of a hypocrite is that of a pine tree which keeps straight till once it is uprooted suddenly.” –Prophet Muhammad (SWS)
So regardless of what comes your way, you must adjust. That is what it is to be a true believer. Don’t stand tall and proud, thinking you’ll never meet your Lord one day. You will meet Him, and remember that all comes from Him. So when going through struggle, even then remain patient and happy, knowing that you will return to your Lord and you belong to Him. Resist those calamities, don’t let them sink into your heart.
The wind might be fierce one day. But resist. Resist the urge to fight when you shouldn’t. You might incur great loss. You might feel pain. But when one knows that the winds of circumstance are controlled by Allah, he should trust in Him, allowing for Him to straighten him up again.
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,
Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.” (Qur'an 2:155-157)
The reward of resistance of unlawful inclination is amazing. For the good that you do, know you won’t ever go unnoticed. Know that someone is watching. Know that your good deeds will never go to waste. And know then a reward will be awaiting you, God willing.
“But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination, then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge.” (Quran 79:40, 41)
So, what is the key to resistance, anyway? It is remembrance. It is remembrance of Allah when the impulse might be its strongest, and thus fearing Him, destroying those impulses. Remember Him when impulse strikes you, and remember there’s a terrible punishment for the disbelievers, and fear it, and remember there is euphoric eternal bliss for those who prevent themselves from inclination.
“Indeed, those who fear Allah - when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember [Him] and at once they have insight.” (Qu’ran 7:201)
So resist with all your might from sin. Fight it with the remembrance of Allah, and ineed He will suffice you. And never, ever despair of Allah’s mercy. Always be hopeful for it, but fear His awful torment. Although He is the most forgiving, one should never allow himself to fall into sin, nor be satisfied with himself during it, and regardless should ask for forgiveness right after. For that is the path towards perfection.
“Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allaah except the disbelieving people.” (Quran 12:87)