Call God!
"In the beginning, God..."
Hi there,
It's been twenty days since my last letter, and I apologise for the gap. While there were reasons, like last week's internet outage, I missed my deadline. Consistency is important, and I take responsibility for the delay.
Before diving into today's reflections, I propose a new schedule: Saturday evenings. This means the next letter will arrive on March 30th (Holy Saturday) and the one after on April 6th. Saturdays are my downtime – a day for relaxation and lighter chores, with minimal events. With this fresh energy, I hope to deliver the week's "eavesdrop" more consistently.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments.
After the creative arts classes in primary school, I didn’t have anything to do with colours until I started developing media products, I had to learn about UI and it required me to understand colours. If not for that, I wouldn't call myself a colour connoisseur1.
This became more evident when I was furnishing my living room. I gravitated towards black, my usual safe choice. But this time, I wanted a deep brown to complement the curtains, rug, and tiles. I even had a Pinterest board to serve as a reference for the carpenter. Unfortunately, the specific shade I envisioned wasn't available at the store. He showed me other shades of brown, but I got confused. Picking the right brown was too hard!
Since I was working on the room’s interior design with a friend, I sought her input. I picked up my phone and called her (three times!). Unfortunately, she was unavailable, and likewise, my mom wasn’t. Since the carpenter wouldn't wait forever, I picked the option I felt was best. However, upon seeing it, my friend expressed concerns. She worried the material wouldn't age well, which initially bummed me out.
“Why couldn't they have been there to help?” I thought.
Fast forward to when the furniture was delivered. I loved it. I practically slept on the couch for the first two nights out of excitement.
This isn't the only time I've needed immediate help and everyone seems to vanish. Have you ever experienced that? You frantically call multiple people, but your calls go unanswered. It's like everyone dropped off the face of the earth, leaving you wondering, "Where is everyone?"
Those moments of helplessness, explain why the scripture says in Psalm 118:8, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to depend on people." The book of Isaiah echoes this sentiment. Isaiah 31:1 says: "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD."
Before we continue, it's important to acknowledge the invaluable role people play in supporting each other. However, I want us to consider the source of that support—God.
The Bible opens with the powerful statement, "In the beginning, God..." (Cf Genesis 1:1). This goes beyond just describing creation; it sets a foundational principle for our lives. It reminds us that God is the source and the alpha, the very beginning of everything. This implies that He should also be the guiding force in our daily lives.
We often compartmentalise God's involvement in our lives, reserving Him for just the "big" decisions. But after reading Bro. Gbile Akanni's "Tapping God's Resources," I realised something profound: God cares about every detail. Seemingly insignificant choices, made without His guidance, can have significant consequences down the road. It's like waiting until we're in the middle of a bad decision to call on Him for a rescue. While He's always there for us, wouldn't it be better to involve Him from the start?
For years, I've spent my birthday eve praying and reading the Word. Every time I do it, God gives me guidance for the coming year, and things go well when I follow it.
But this instance feels “big”, maybe this one will be better:
After I read Bro. Akanni’s book, I decided to practice the lessons. One evening, after church, I wanted bread. I asked God if I should get some, and He seemed okay with it. But then something strange happened. I picked out a loaf, but then saw a fancier one that matched the money I had left. I felt a little unsure, but I got the expensive one anyway. Right after, I couldn't find a taxi willing to take me because I only had a thousand Naira note. "No change!" they kept saying. I ended up walking home.
I haven't always been great at "listening to God" for everything, but this experience made me realise that small choices can have bigger results. Including God in everything, even the little stuff, is worth trying more often.
Maybe you're facing a difficult decision and wrestling with God's will. Remember, the Bible says, "Let [His] will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Cf. Matthew 6:10). God's plans for us are for good, not for harm. So, don't be afraid to trust in the Good Shepherd and let Him guide you.
Let him guide you even in those ‘not-so-difficult’ decisions.
Everything we've discussed here boils down to one key step: building a genuine relationship with God. Consistent fellowship with Him, like spending time in prayer and reflection, trains your spirit to recognise His voice. Like Paul said to the Corinthians: "If you don't understand the language, how will you know what is being said?" (1 Corinthians 14:10).
In our noisy world, it's more important than ever to draw closer to God so you can hear His voice guiding you towards a positive path.
🎶 I was writing this letter while listening to Worship Chant by Esther Orji, this Lenten playlist and Joy of the Lord by Maverick City Music.
🍿 Current Read: Fasting and Feasting by Gordon Giles
a person who has expert knowledge of something, esp. an art, food, or drink, and is qualified to judge and appreciate its quality. (Cambridge Dictionary)
"In our noisy world, it's more important than ever to draw closer to God so you can hear His voice guiding you towards a positive path."
Thank you for writing JS, great read.