It was not until I got to the house I realized that the testimony I shared at Wordroom came from a more hopeless place than I had made it sound it came from.
It was the last Wordroom session for 2020 and we were discussing 'Beyond 2020 - finishing strong in crisis.'
The first question on our sheets was "Have you ever been in what you thought was a hopeless situation? How did you survive it?"
There's one testimony that comes to my mind easily when it comes to this kind of situation, and it is about one of my very broke moments.
We had been given quit notice to leave few days before my birthday, and we finally had to squat at my uncle's. Our things were actually at my aunt's, whose house was farther for me to afford to transport myself, my sister and mum to church and other places we had to go to, so we managed with my uncle's. On the eve of my birthday three days before we relocated to a relatives; I was tempted by a man with about seven hundred thousand naira (N700,000) while I was broke flat and was in dare need of accommodation. I shared this story 'Decisions' http://alawilcoxblog.blogspot.com/2019/08/decision.html?m=1 on my blog.
Fast forward to about three weeks after we moved, I had exhausted all the savings I had left and I was still job hunting and was still new in business.
On a fateful day, my sis came home from school and needed money for something important in school, and we also had our last supper for that evening cause I didn't know were the next meal was going to come from.
After we had had our last meal, I had my bath and was ready to retire to bed. But before that, I remembered the story of the widow at Zarephath in the bible and how God used Elijah to supply her with more food than she imagined. I just jejely told God like I usually do, "God I'm in Your hands o. I don't know where the next meal will come from, and I've got no idea where money would come from, but I trust You to make a way like You always do."
It was just a sincere prayer, and in just over an hour, I received a phone call from a next compound neighbour of my uncle, that I gave my number a week ago because I knew him from my former church. Usually, I wouldn't step an inch out of my house after I've had my night bath, but when he insisted I came downstairs, I had the feeling to just go, so I did.
He first took me to the shop adjacent to our house and asked them to give me fresh bread (my lovely best food that year) and juice. Me was now saying, "no, thank you." Meanwhile, inside my mind, I was happy o. After plenty "it's nothing, just take it from me," I took it.
We walked outside and stood at my gate, gisting about the things I can't remember right now (I'm guessing it was music.) I told him thank you for the dinner and opted to go inside as it was getting late. Uncle shook my hand, and it was money that entered it. Ma dear, it shocked me o! I could only say thank you.
As I climbed the stairs and entered into my uncle's flat, I counted the money and was amazed at how accurate it was. My sister's bill for the next day and her transportation was sorted, and I had balance to go out and hustle. I knelt down and told God thank You. In fact, we all did. I did it with tears in my eyes, cause it blew my imagination how it came.
Truthfully, I had asked God prior to this time why I would be tempted with so much money and not have money, but I sha just relied on His word.
This testimony reminded me that, trusting God through the toughest of situations helps you trust and have faith in Him more. It helps you become stronger. Anything of that level that comes your way as a way of testing, it would surprise you how much you wouldn't be as bothered as you use to before.
It also teaches you lessons that could become a force of encouragement to others in the future.
I know 2020 has been quite an ordeal for almost everyone, if not everyone, but I'm here to encourage you to trust God through it all, regardless of where you find yourself now. You can FINISH STRONGER than you anticipated. It might come in little ways you wouldn't appreciate, but it will surely happen.
Being alive to see December in this year full of hurdles is a testimony on it's own.
Count your blessings and be thankful to God cause FINISHing STRONGER, we must attain.
ALA O. PEPPLE
Proverbs 3:5-6(MSG)
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.
Proverbs 3:5-6 TPT
Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go.
#AlaPepple #finishstronger #trustGod #grateful
