WEATHER-BEATEN HOPE!

As I was saying …
Such were some days when the tyranny of unfulfilled dreams crippled your creative juice, and you remain emotionally and psychologically drained for days, hoping for the dawn not to show up. When you inexplicably get dog-tired, without participating in any exertions…wishing your heart should just stop somewhere in the Lagos traffic.
When all appeared dim, I would not know where I got the energy not to give in fully to despair, or run out and look for salvation in other means and powers…it was so easy to make money without quibbling about faith or niceties of steadfastness; or the dignified distance from sleaze of influence-peddling and professional blackmail. And more importantly, I kept assuring my children, to hold on, to watch carefully and patiently, and know that God answers prayers… I didn’t know what would happen…but I knew something must happen…and I was just praying that my boast of God, in the face of mounting depression… in the presence of my children, would not blow up on my face.
Not only would I have completed my faith-tripping in gigantic failure; but I would have invariably dragged my children millions of kilometers far away from God, and any hope of spiritual communion.
But my hope was based on a very simple premise: that if in all our tribulations, the children were made active wide-eyed witnesses of our battles to overwhelm all our challenges; with nothing more fantastic than prayers, fasting, honest lifestyle and an unshakeable trust in God. And that if, by the special grace of God, our circumstances improved remarkably - and they were also there to witness it - then, we will not need to preach long sermons before they are fully persuaded about who is the God of their parents. They will look up to the same God, and teach their own children to do likewise.
It was so simple; yet heart-breaking, as months rolled on one another and our situation stubbornly remained the same. But God is faithful.
Sometimes, it would appear God was not interested in our case; our efforts to serve or to remain on the straight line might seem inadequate or unappreciated; but the end of the story would almost always reveal that God is truly faithful.
Today, our children do not need us to tell them to pray or fast before their exams; they were witnesses. Now, they put their own faith to the test: and God has not failed them.
Have you learnt anything so far from this? Do you want to share your own story? Your story may encourage me to share more, and grow further. I want to read from you…Katchya.