Earlier this week, I was thinking about how life can be challenging to us sometimes, and in those moments, we really never get to understand why we go through the challenges we experience, but a few weeks, months, or even years down the line, we are able to connect the dots of what God was doing in our lives, and it starts to make perfect sense.

I am learning to be very grateful for everything I go through because God never stops working behind the scenes. Even when the enemy means it for evil, God just has a way of turning everything for his glory.

In everything, I am always reminded that the faithful God is always working behind the scenes for my good and for the glory of his name. I pray you take this along with you as you step into the new week.

Have a great week ahead.

 

Sometimes in life, you experience phases where nothing makes sense. It feels like everything is against you. It gets worse when you feel like God is even silent. Could it just be that everything is actually working together for your good and you didn't know it?

One thing the last few months of my life have taught me is that God never goes back on his word. I went through a tough season, and all God was saying was trust me. It was very hard to trust, but the moment I brought myself to trust despite the situation around me, he replaced my fears with his peace.

When it doesn't make sense, trust that God is working behind the scenes and that everything is working for your good. 

I would love to read your thoughts. 

Thanks for reading & have a great week ahead. 

Oluwanishola Akeju writes and I thought it wise to share:

Just few weeks after I completed my NYSC. One of our family friend was urged to help me out with a job. He was a well known man in the city. We were sanguined and cocksure about his ability, because he trades with big men.

Soon enough, he called me one morning to meet him at his office which I did. I got there, I met two other men together with him. He told me to wait while they bring their meeting to an end. So I went back to the reception.

Shortly, he called me hurriedly after putting a call through to the receptionist. He requested i get him a car spare part. He sent me with what looked like he had no idea of the price. So he gave me excess cash and with any amount I get to price it, I should buy. So I took his car.

He suggested an area where I could find it to make it easier. And since I had no other place in mind, I went to the area he had mentioned.
I checked about 4 different shops. I noticed the price was with a difference of hundreds. But the lowest of the price was 12,000naira. I was given 45,000naira. I bought it.

On my way back. I started feeling uneasy. I began to envisage on the remaining cash.
I thought about making and claiming the price was much more.

I percolated on making it over 30k; I also thought again about making it just 22k after all I was still going to tender a lot of cash.
I was really broke during that period which made it a tough test. I thought of several urgent things I needed that I would've been able to attend to.

Then It came to my mind that
"The blessing of God, it makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it."

I couldn't pray about what choice to make.
But Firmly, I took my stand never to make a different price.

I returned to his office and gave him the cash left. He asked about how I had gone pricing and buying which I narrated exactly how I had gone to several shops to make sure the price wasn't outrageous.

Just like a movie, they all stood to shook my hands. Reluctantly, I reached for their hands as I was surprised.

Those men in there, were there to experience my final test before my appointment for a post. They were manager and director of a private company.
They needed a purchasing officer fitting to handle both big and little 'purchase' in their establishment.
Where I had gone to buy, they've access to their mobile contacts. All the shops that sells car parts in that area were owned by just one person who was also their friend. It was just a call to confirm how much I had paid.

They were happy while I was still shocked with the question what if...

I was proud of myself.

That was how I got the job.

"Sometimes being sincere isn't for the good of others but for your breakthrough". A friend said "honesty pays".

Every short cut eventually cuts short the journey and dream.
We must imbibe discipline, honesty, integrity, morals and live them as lifestyle.
Do not eat your tomorrow today.
Do not destroy your God-given opportunity by playing smart.
Do not destroy your image and family name on the altar of pressing needs.
Godliness with contentment, a GREAT GAIN.

Wow such a wonderful piece. How did you find it?

Elvis got qualified for the final lap of a competition and this entails choosing a bag out of the two bags placed on the table. Both bags looked great but one looked better than the other; there was a small bag and a big one. There were two rules guiding his choice; firstly he could decide to visit a wise old man in a very distant country, who lived in a little cottage to tell him the right bag to pick, secondly he could pick based on his discretion, intellectual knowledge prowess or approval from friends. Elvis asked the judges to give him a little time to use his noodles, in other to make a decision. Immediately everywhere became calm as they were all curious to know what his decision would be.

Elvis Point of View (POV)
“Going to visit the old wise man is a cool idea, but that would be stressful and time consuming. I would rather make my decision since I know, am really a smart guy and I have always made the right decisions so I will do it myself”.
“Which should I pick now?” he asked himself. “On a neutral platform I would go for the big bag because I think the content would be great but since this is a very technical competition, I would go for the small bag”.

Back to the Narrator
He told his friends about his decision and they told him he made the right choice. He immediately told the judges he would make the decision himself rather than travel far away; he decided to go for the smaller bag. There was a round of applause and so much screaming by everyone present; Elvis was indeed a brave and smart guy.

It was time to finally check the content of each bag as that was what really matters. Remember this was the last lap of the competition; he had scaled through four lapses successfully. The judges moved towards the bags, at this moment, everyone was curious, the yelling, clapping, screaming and whistling intensified as this was the hottest part of the game. Elvis was so nervous, his heart beating so fast, his hands shaking and sweating. Finally the bags were opened.

The small bag contained trash; papers and nylons while the bigger one contained a medal and a cheque of N10 billion. At this moment Elvis was taken aback, he couldn’t help the hot tears that flowed down his cheeks, his blood ran cold and he was filled with so much regret. The gingered audience immediately became almost quite, they were all disappointed. Elvis wished he was patient enough to have visited the wise old man; he would have made a perfect choice that would have turned his world around. He was only left with a consolation prize which was nothing compared to what he lost.

This is a typical scenario of man and God. Most times we make decisions based on what we think, feel and see because we are not patient enough to make enquiries to hear what God is saying. We make some vital decisions based on our intellectual wisdom. As humans we are limited but God is limitless. We see only the container but he sees both the container and the content. Remember God’s ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts so make enquiries from the all knowing to avoid making wrong decisions.

It's a very cool Sunday morning here in Lagos. It rained ☔ at night and I over slept, the weather was so cool.  I was really angry 😡  with myself, because I was going to miss the church bus even though I dressed with the speed of light. I choose to remain grateful ultimately because I am alive.

I also remembered a story of a man. The man said I feel so sad because I have no shoes. That same day he met a man without legs and he became so grateful to God.
A man without legs was always mourning his condition until a day he witnessed an accident scene and saw how people died. He immediately said "God thank you for my life".

Gratitude lifts off anxiety and brightens your countenance.
A grateful heart, is a heart that is always ready to receive.
The secret for the application of more blessings is gratitude.
Nothing is too little to express gratitude on.

Always know that in every situation you find yourself you are better than someone.
You might not have gotten to that place you want to be, but the truth remains that, you are not where you used to be.
Never be so depressed about your situation that, you never ever notice the great things God has done for you.

You can't say you are grateful and never express it.
Remember gratitude without expression, is like a present which was never delivered.
Be thankful to God, for your family, friends and neighbours today.

Am grateful because God made another way, I finally went to church, I was totally blessed and am having a great Sunday .

What about you, what are you grateful for and how's the Sunday going?

I have been studying a book on faith recently and I have been blessed. I will love to share what I have gained thus far.
I will be sharing three ways to build your faith in God:

1. Complete confidence in God.
Most times we try to apply faith to some situations but it feels like its not working. It happens this way because we do not have complete trust in God, we have a little doubt in our heart like, what if it doesn't go this way? what will happen?

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Romans 4:20-21


2. Stop trying to figure it out.
Most times we pray but will still try to figure out how everything will happen. You can't play your part by praying and also try to do God's part by trying to figure things out. God will just fold his hand an watch you.

3. Holding on to God's word.
Remember God said "I honour my word more than my name Jehovah" psalm 138:2b he also said "heaven and earth will pass away but my word will not" Matt 24:35.
Hold on to the word, always remind God of his word over your life. Never allow doubt, continue holding on to that great picture you have always picture

These things have worked for me and it's still working for me. God has never left me stranded. He is always in the storm if only you can see him. Remember what God says to one he says to all, if only you have faith.