So here’s what ya boy learned (again, sorry for the length
of this post):
The Importance of Patience
It shouldn’t just be a virtue; it needs to be a lifestyle
Sometimes, when we become impatient with God’s plan for us, we
tend to go off on our own to try to make things happen ourselves, and we end up
further away from our goal. Then we start wondering where He is, and why He “put
us in the place” we are in. Sound familiar?
We live in a world where instant gratification is programmed into us,
and when we don’t get it, we make mistakes by taking matters into our own hands
Patience is something we need to survive in life. It’s how
we deal with our daily demands such as family, work, school, and friends. It’s
also a trait God wants us all to have. Think of all the mistakes we make and
how He never gives up on us. He is patient
and welcomes us home when we are ready, just like the story of the prodigal son.
Let that sink in. He waits for us no
matter what we do wrong or how long it takes us to come to our senses.
We should aim to emulate that in our own lives. Learning and practicing
patience has at the very least given me peace of mind.
Each Event in Life Has
Meaning
Everything happens for a reason
God placed us on this Earth to fulfill an objective. Unless
we are actually listening to Him, and not allowing our own agendas to interfere,
we will never understand our true purpose.
Everything in life- the people we meet, the experiences we have, the
“coincidences” that occur, and the challenges we face- has some purpose behind
it
By praying to God for understanding, and being more
receptive of His voice and signs, we can gain clarity on why different things
happen. For example, 2 years ago, I remember becoming very agitated when I missed
my train on my way to an interview. It turns out that same train ended up smoking
and having an electrical malfunction right before it arrived at my intended
stop. Coincidence? I think not. Once you learn to connect the dots in life, you
wouldn’t believe how many things
begin to make sense.
The People You
Surround Yourself With
“You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with” –
Jim Rohn
We underestimate the impact those in our social circles have
on us. Think about it- how often do you find yourself using the same phrases as
these people, even when they’re not around? Does the group tend to act in a
similar manner? The bottom line is that we are influenced by them in some way.
This was tough for me to come to terms with because I
realized that there were certain people in my life that influenced me to make
decisions that weren’t conducive to my fast, or the path I wanted to follow. It
also meant that if I wanted to see certain changes, or truly have a different
mindset, it would probably mean limiting, if not cutting off, those ties. And
unfortunately, that’s a part of life.
“Not everyone who started with you will finish with you. Be willing to
go without them if you need to." – Tony Gaskins
But once I started making those tough choices, my life
started turning in the direction I desired.
We are Not Perfect
We are all bound to make mistakes
No matter how many times I’ve heard this phrase, I’ve
continued to condemn myself anytime I sin- and that’s not healthy. We forget
that we are human, and therefore, are not perfect. Now, does that mean go and do
whatever you want? No. We should be actively working to avoid doing wrong (Romans
6:1-2).
Make a mistake more than once and
it becomes a decision
But remember, if you stumble, just pick yourself up, and
keep moving forward because we are saved
by His grace. Just don’t abuse that truth fam. And for those individuals
who love pointing out and judging the wrong others do, remember that the Bible
discourages us from playing the judge (Matthew 7:1-2). These people believe
they are spotless- despite us all being human and made in God’s image- and that
it is their duty to pass judgement on others. Relax oh holy ones. God is judging you, too.
The Challenges We Face
“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will
carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
Every challenge you face is meant specifically for you and
your betterment, such as growing your faith, solidifying a strong mindset that
can overcome all, being in a position to help others, etc. Think about Paul and
the “prick in his side” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). He doesn’t give too much
detail about what it is but explains how it was a means for God to keep him
humble. God uses our “prick” as a means for us to beat any challenge that comes
our way by helping us reach that peak (the prick) and overcoming it.
“For I know I have plans for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper
you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Many times we question why we are going through certain
stages in our life. In reality, God is just looking out for us by building us up
in different areas so that we can take on even greater challenges in the future.
The tougher the challenge, the bigger the plan He has for you once you overcome
it. Also, one thing I’ve found helpful is having a support system and people
you can turn to when things get unbearable. We as human beings thrive on our interactions
and connections with others. So it makes sense why life wasn’t meant to be
endured alone. Why do you think God created Eve?
Trusting God’s Pace
and Process
Trust in His delays rather than doubt His ways
As much as we claim not to, and as hype as we were after listening
to “God’s Plan,” when things aren’t going the way we anticipated, our trust and
faith in God tends to waver. God has his reasons for everything He does. You
think Judgement Day hasn’t happened yet because He forgot? He’s trying to give
us time to get our act together because He cares. So think about why He might
be delaying your blessing.
But that’s not the only reason why things don’t go the way
we want.
Sometimes we think we’re the ones waiting on God, when really, God is waiting
on us
Throughout this time of self-reflection, I’ve realized there
are many areas of my life in which I need improvement, and it took great effort
and humility to come to terms with that. We forget that God is, well, God. He
knows us better than we know ourselves. When we try to take things into our own
hands, God will just look at us like, “Oh, you think you know what’s best?
Because you got to where you are on your own, right? Okay. I’ll just watch.” In
the end, we end up right back at square one.
I’ve had countless times where I’ve done just that and I
would laugh when it failed because I knew God was telling me, “Oh, you thought
you were gonna do my job for me? You tried it.” One example I believe everyone
can relate to was when I was unsuccessfully seeking a relationship.
There was a period where literally
every girl I wanted to talk to, or ask out, had a boyfriend. No joke- Every.
Single. One. It got to the point where just for jokes I walked up to a girl,
had a whole conversation, and just asked if she was committed. Before she even
said yes, I couldn’t help but smirk because I already knew what she would say.
I just looked up at God like, “You can’t let me live just once, Lord?” And you
know being African, I was already getting the same questions talking about, “Where’s your wife,” 🙄 like
mom, relaaaax; I know you want grandkids but sheesh. Then she’d start quoting
the Bible with, “He who finds a wife …” and I’d just be sitting there wondering
if future bae was getting the same talk. And if she was, pondering why she hadn’t
come and stolen my heart yet, as well as paid my groom price? To those already
rolling eyes and kissing teeth– because I know there’s probably a lot of y’all-
abeg, let me dream lol. But I digress. He was trying to tell me it wasn’t my
time. Eventually, I realized how right He was, and how I could have been in a
really bad place had I ignored Him. In the end, you will have no choice but to
listen to what God is trying to tell you because His will supersedes all.
So don’t stress. Just follow God’s pace, and you’ll reach
your destination.
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