“I wish I listened to God. I have failed again. I have lost everything while chasing my ambitions”. Lilian said as she wept while sitting on her bed.
Vivian interrupted her gloomy moments as she walked into the room. Lilian, on noticing the sudden entry, tried to wipe her face which was covered in tears.
“I’m glad I met you in the right state of mind.” Vivan said as she sat close to her.
“What do you mean by that?” Lilian replied with her brows furrowed.
“Last week, the Holy Spirit instructed me to talk to you about something. I have been waiting for the right time to do that. Each time I try, you’re always occupied with one thing or the other” Vivan paused to watch her reactions.
” I know you feel like a failure but God doesn’t see you as that. Instead, God wants you to stop trying to do things with your strength. He understands that you’re burdened with a lot of responsibilities and it has affected your relationship with Him. You’ll have to depend more on Him instead of your organized ways of doing things which only adds to your burdens. When a man tries to run with a heavy load on his head, he’ll get tired faster than one who runs with no loads or burdens.” Vivian added.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she heard Vivian speak. It became clear to her that her abilities had failed her in getting things done. Lilian went on her knees and asked that Vivian pray for her. Vivian, moved by her tears, knelt and hugged her as she prayed.
******
Resuming as a sophomore had been a taxing experience for Lilian. By nomination, she became the course representative for her department. She held crucial positions at her fellowship and faculty. She got engrossed in a lot of activities that she forgot the place of fellowship.
Our consistency in fellowship with God is what keeps us strengthened as we face life and its hurdles. It appears that, most times we want to help God do the things He can do himself. Scriptures say in Philippians 2;12
[Not in your strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. (AMPC)
When challenges arise and they are not effectively dealt with, they end up choking us out of our relationship. These challenges are nettles and thorns. Fellowship requires a lot of commitment. It’s like planting a flower in your garden that is prone to being surrounded by nettles. You don’t wait until they start choking up the flowers before you weed them out.
Identify the nettles in your bud and nip them out now.