Welcome to the September 27th edition of Faith & Life Lessons.
You will see this email full of tidbits from my week. My goal is simple. I hope that from how I live my life, you can find a thing or two that helps you as you try to live a life that matters. I am always trying to do one thing - make Christ-focused decisions in love, work, and life. And this was my week.
The Story Of My Week
My week ended on a rather emotional level
I am beginning a new transition that has a significant impact on literally every aspect of my life - work, family, personal, etc.
I got some news on Friday which was unexpected regarding the change. Add to that the Saturday emotional roller-coaster I had looking at my kids and what would be changing over the next few months.
I went to something that I learnt early in my walk.
It's this "when problems & challenges start to overwhelm, find a way to see God bigger than He was to you".
I spent most of Saturday listening to songs that helped me to do that.
I came out of the emotional rut with confidence that God is at work.
And He wants me to stand and show up.
Always remembering that God is always bigger
Things I Learnt
1-Silent When to Speak: I was watching a Christian movie in which the main protagonist would constantly give responses that point people to his faith in Jesus
For example, when he was asked why he had not yet married, he responded that he is praying and waiting on the Lord.
He was quite bold to make similar declarations in so many aspects of life - his work and his choice of lifestyle.
Watching it made me go over my life and wonder if I have not missed on “testifying opportunities”.
I recall how after I had worked for a couple of years and looked settled, especially after moving into my house, I would be asked by some of my family members now and again when I was bringing my bride home.
I couldn't find the voice to say "I am waiting on God to bring her to my world". My response would simply be something like "I am still waiting to find her".
Another time, a colleague in my office complimented a particular way I respond to work stress, I just smiled. Later on, I wondered why I could not seize the moment to say "it was my faith in Jesus that created the transformation"
I wish I could be quick on the draw like the guy in the movie I watched to always add a reference to my faith in Jesus when I need to give reasons for why I do things
I know that my faith in Jesus has been proved by the life I lived in these situations but a part of me wished I would live it out and speak it out.
Live & Speak
Speaking gives a gospel they can hear to understand
Living gives a gospel they can see to experience its power
I want to do both
2-God Always has a Good Plan: A couple of things happened this week to my family that confirmed that the difficult times are part of God's good plan.
My family has been on a transition that been years in the making. There are certain decisions that we made some years back that we are seeing the full benefit of them on the family now.
There were also certain decisions that others made that had an impact on the family and God has worked to make these turn out for good.
This week, as I watched our son go off to play with his friend, I could only express gratitude to God for how He worked out our decisions and the decisions of others for His good plan.
I think I needed this moment.
At the moment, other people are making decisions that will affect our family and we are also making decisions that will do the same.
I am confident that God has a good plan
A plan that our family will live for His Name and unending glory.
The plan will have its own adventure-ridden moments.
But God will always work it out for good.
His good
Which will be for our good.
Even if I never experience the full measure of His good on this side of heaven
And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 1 Corinthians 15:19
Postscript
May your heart be filled with peace to know that God is working out every decision for His own good. May you not become selfish to forget that God's good will be the highest good you will ever experience in this life and the life to come (Amen)
Tata,
Tola
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