certainty

I know it has been a long time you heard from us over. Over the last one month now has been very challenging is it not? The happenings all around you, and your personal experiences has impressed so much uncertainty, brokenness, and discouragement upon your heart. Let’s quickly read through a short story: Now it happened, on the third day when David and his men came to Ziklag, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burnt it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them and went their way. David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burnt with fire; and their wives, sons and daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelites and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Then DAVID WAS GREATLY DISTRESSED for the people spoke of stoning him, because the people were grieved, every man for his sons and daughters. BUT DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. And David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And GOD answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all” Just as it seems we are about to have a major breakthrough in Nigeria and Africa at large, then comes something to remind us that ‘we are limited’; and this happens in our personal lives too, right? Where you find yourself sandwiched within tough decisions, people who you cannot dissociate from, etc., and all these make you feel “will I ever get to that promised land?”, “was the land even promised to me or I was just fantasizing?”, “everyone is making demands on me as if the whole issue was my fault”, “everyone was there to enjoy the good times, but now there is an issue and everyone thinks I masterminded it or that I should spit out answers” etc. Well, David had the same experience. David was given Ziklag by the king of the Philistines. Ziklag was his, not borrowed. It was not a hide-out cave. It had become David’s home, together with those who are with him. He had just offered going to battle against the Philistines with Israel but faced a major rejection; him and his men – “what an embarrassment!” you may say if you were one of those with David. Yet on getting to Ziklag, they find everywhere ransacked, their wives and children taken. So much uncertainty for David. How will life be for him now and thereafter? Will he ‘make it’ again if he starts afresh? Will the wives and children he gets again fill the space that the taken ones filled? are those taken still alive? Will the men who has always believed him, believe him again? Will he succeed if he tries to recover what was taken? If he tries to battle, will he win the fight? Are the men and even himself having enough morale and energy to even fight? (the story says they wept until they had no more strength to weep), and many more uncertainties, discouraging thoughts and broken-heartedness. However, in the midst of all the uncertainty, David was certain of something – that he could talk to God and God will answer, giving him the direction that he needs from the tough experience. That was all David needed – something sure, which he has known before that time (2 Tim 3:14), to hold on to by which he deals and goes through uncertainty, discouragement, and broken-heartedness. You also. You have some SURE THINGS to refer to, in the midst of all those uncertainties, tough corners, lacking of strength to continue that great idea, discouraging thoughts, people who are disappointing with whom you have to associate, broken-heartedness, etc. SURE THINGS as the promises and principles founded upon ‘God cannot lie.’ Those SURE THINGS take you through the storm, and even make you deal with it. You know that God will not leave you helpless in any situation, so stand up and locate what you ought to do. You know there is no food for the lazy man, so wake up! You know that that destiny will come to pass only if you continue in the things you do. You know that that job of 400k will not come until you are certified, so take that of 10k while you pursue certification! Many more sure things. Why sit you there, tired, discouraged, uncertain, broken-hearted, idle and you see doom ahead; refer to your notes and look at those beautiful things you heard and were taught, those sure things God told you, those life principles that won’t bend for you. Focus on those things when life’s turbulence hits. As for me, one of those sure things is that I have been made precious to Sow Precious Seeds into lives with my mouth and life. Bless you! We are back!