When The Best Writer Writes Your Story
On obedience and yielding to God's will
Hello, men and babes.
I know I have been AWOL but trust me I have had you on my mind all this time. I have incomplete drafts where I couldn’t give the heartfelt emotions you deserve but I promised myself you would hear from me at least once this month. So here we are!
O ran mo nise fayati.
The one who sends me is backing me up.
Today is Celebration Church International's 11th anniversary and my lead Pastor used this statement in his IG post and it re-ministered to me.
You see, I'm currently in a place I have never been before for a mandatory one year paramilitary training/national service for graduates. It is miles away from home as I know it and although it is close to the city where I schooled, it's a different move because I do not know anybody here at the moment to help me settle in.
My issue is not just with the location, it's with the scheme in itself. I am vehemently opposed to the idea of this "mandatory" service especially with the stringent laws for medical professionals. It seems to me like a time waster but I guess I could no longer put it off.
When I decided to go against my wish and just get on with this, my condition was that I would coast through, doing just enough to get my certificate at the end of the year. This meant trying to get my posting to Lagos or at least a neighbouring state.
Men and babes, I knew it would not be a successful venture but coconut head that I was (I am a stubborn person), I still went ahead with it.
How did I know it won't work? Because I have an inner witness in the Holy Spirit and he would have me participate in this program, but not in Lagos. So when I was checking for my call up letter, I knew my plug would fail me and he did😭😭.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
Psalms 20:7-8 NIV
Immediately I saw it, I first felt relief that it wasn't in Northern Nigerian ravaged with stories of unrest. Relief then gave way to anger and a truckload of swirling emotions. I texted my friends and they were all shocked but said similar things along the tropes of "God will have you do something there". What?! I thought, what happened to Lagos? Why can't He have me do it at home please?😭.
I had a measly two days to decide but by the next morning I had decided to go. After all, I had received reassurances from friends stating that it would be the fastest 12 months of my life. I'm half tempted to say they lied because the past eleven days have felt like an eternity and I can't wait to leave this camp in ten days. Flight fares are currently set at ridiculous prices that I can't afford them so I came here on a road trip that lasted about 12 hours.
Saying I have wholeheartedly accepted this decision would be a big lie because I have recently had discussions with friends on how to "officially" boycott this program. My body has rebelled against the environment and conditions I'm exposed to here so much that I had health emergencies in less than a week. I desperately want to leave this place, but I can't. God is not a genie and doesn’t work on my whims so I can't even make certain negotiations as that would be partial obedience.
Today, as I reflect on the 11th anniversary of my local church, CCI, I'm reminded that the obedience of one man is ensuring the progress and joy in the faith of my church siblings and I. One "yes to your will, Lord" has jump-started a whole revolution where a billion souls and more chant together In Christ, for Christ, With joy! In the three years that I have been a member, I have witnessed a huge turn around in member strength, growing from a three-campus church to having 26 campuses globally.
Obedience would not always be easy. That's why Jesus said the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Knowing that your accepting Christ's life and lordship doesn't mean you will never struggle with following God's leading will help you navigate times when your heart is weary in obedience. God's plans will frequently take a different route than yours; you have to align yours to his, because He is Lord and master over you. It will be hard but his Spirit will strengthen you.
Jackie Hill-Perry once said we have doubts and fears about following God's leading because we often forget that God is good and that's the only nature that he possesses. If we really believe that God is a good God, then we'll know that all His plans for us are good and we'll be excited about heeding His instructions.
The day after I got my posting, I heard O ran mo nise fayati in my Spirit and I then saw this song, Oranmonisefayatide by The New Music that I played on repeat to stay stirred up. It is my reminder that God will not leave me stranded in any situation. My heart will learn to trust God in inconvenience.
Where I would be by this time next year, whether tangibly or intangibly, remains a mystery to me but I am committed to embarking on this journey with the one who holds my hand and has my back. I'm committed to obeying God in small ways so that I am equipped to obey in magnified proportions.
I will sorely miss my friends and church family greatly especially since there's no CCI campus here. A few days ago, I actually cried when I realised that I would go back to having online friendships again, at least until I am able to find friends here. Here's to receiving the gift of good godly friends in this new place.
Happy anniversary to all my siblings at CCI Global and thank you Apostle Emmanuel Iren for yielding and reminding us that obedience pays even when we don't see a clear trajectory in the beginning.