‘’I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.’’   Job 42:5 (NLT)

Some experiences, you never forget; no matter how hard you try. Some others, you were never meant to forget; they happened to teach you vital lessons that will do you good all the days of your life. It’s important to learn from the experiences of others because you can’t go through everything yourself. Note though, that knowing God is not one of such experiences. Even though the testimonies of God in the lives of others could spark up interest in you to know Him, the best thing you can do for your self is to search for Him with all your heart and find Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 says, ‘’And you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.’’    (NKJV) 

Most people think that knowing God means an end to trials, and I do wonder where they get that notion since even Jesus Christ was mocked, stripped, and crucified. He suffered unto death even though He was innocent. Why then do we think that we will scale through life as if on a bed of roses? Trials are not the end of life; if handled correctly, they eventually make us stronger, and better, and wiser. I can testify to that first-hand. And if we’re being truthful to ourselves, we would agree that seasons of trial push us closer to God, because it’s then that we realize how much we need Him and that no matter how much men wanna help, they are limited at best; there is only so much they can do. And so we find ourselves pressing into God like never before. We take time to search the Word, pray, read books and listen to faith-building messages. It’s in periods like these, that we begin to find out things about God that we never knew or even heard before. Like our opening Scripture says, you might have heard of God, but in seasons of trial, you begin to really see and know Him in a whole new way. 

I remember sometime ago when I went through a season of trial, I was very confused and scared. I was still having my daily quiet time but my mind usually went in a lot of directions. As I recall though, any time I began to fret about what was going on, I would feel this awesome presence surround me, letting me know that everything was going to be fine and that I wasn’t alone. Sometimes, I would ‘stumble’ on a message or write up and it will do my heart good; at other times, I would receive calls and had company that encouraged and cheered me up. But in all these, the most amazing thing was that ‘presence,’ it was so real. It surrounded and calmed me each and every time I started to worry. It was then that the ministry of the Holy Spirit as a Comforter became clearer to me. Of course, I had heard of this countless times and had also read about it same number of times, but it was in this season that it became so real to me, can you imagine?! Now, when others are going through stuff, I pray with compassion in my heart (from a place of experience) that the Holy Spirit comforts them like only He can.

There was this other time while in the university, that I got into a fix. I tried all I could but there really was no way around it. I prayed and called on God but it was like I was still at the same spot. I almost gave up when suddenly, I was out! Miraculously. Since there was no way, Jesus came and became the way. Now, I understand what God making a way through the red sea looks like. Sometimes, the only way out is THROUGH. Don’t try to get around things, go through them. That’s a word for someone today. As humans, we would rather rush seasons than patiently allow them take their full course and produce better versions of ourselves.

For some of us, when we go through some things and eventually come out on the other side, we can’t even believe that we survived! My consolation though, is that God has promised not to allow come to us, what He hasn’t already equipped us to handle.

So my question is; ‘As a result of all you’ve been through, what has God become to you? What have you discovered about Him in your seasons of trial?’ The answers to these questions are very important because they will ensure your firm rooting in Christ and will serve as a reminder of God’s faithfulness in future trial seasons.

Aunty, you have been a Believer for 4 years now and you have never taken time out to study the Word of God by & for yourself. No wonder you are being blown away by EVERY wind of doctrine. People say this is good and you are there, and they suddenly change their minds and say it is no longer this that is good, and you agree with them; fickle as they are. Stop oscillating like a pendulum, you aren’t one!

Uncle, your roommate said, ‘ehen, they said that God said this but didn’t really mean that and I read on someone’s page on instagram that the Bible did not say this and blah, blah, blah….’ Eventually, you find out that you are more confused than some producers of certain shows. Why won’t you be? When you say you love God and want to know Him more, but you have never thought to read the whole Bible at least once? Who are you kidding? You’ve got brains, a Bible, a pen & note book, a back side and a stool/floor. Make use of them! How? Simple – seat your behind on the stool/floor, say a word of prayer for divine illumination, open your Bible, and read. Just read, and as you do, take down notes as you’re led. You’ll see that with consistency and time, your eyes will begin to open to fresh revelations; that is the Spirit of God lighting up your heart and giving you understanding. 

If you really want to make it as a Believer, you’ve got to know God in His Word for yourself. You’ve got to have a reason to believe the way you do. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.”   (NLT)

Study God’s Word not because you have a preaching engagement or because you wanna arm yourself for arguments on & offline. All these baseless arguments and word-wars are not necessary, neither are they important; they are exhausting, time wasting and distract you from more significant matters, you don’t need them.

What you need is to study God’s Word because you love Him and wanna have a more intimate relationship with Him. That way, no one will be able to convince you otherwise. It will be just as fruitless as pouring water on a rock and hoping it melts. You know how you can so know your sibling that when outsiders try to convince you otherwise about him, you don’t believe, no matter how hard they try. If you believe this way about someone who could easily change tomorrow, how much more should you for One Who is unchangeable?

God’s Word is hidden treasure; only those desperate and diligent enough find it. 

Remember this – there is no way your plan for yourself is better than God’s plan for you. He loves you. Let He that has written your life story, direct you. Let Him be for you, all you need Him to be.

These two names He is called in Igbo console me. 1- Agbakwuru onyike (we ran to the one who has strength), 2 – Echeta, obi-esike (when we remember, our heart is strengthened). These names have ministered to me more times than one.

I recently listened to a message titled ‘Activating Greatness’ by Apostle Joshua Selman and amongst other things, he said the following;

• The first advantage of seasons of trial is that it gives you a personal experience of God.

• The second advantage is that it gives you understanding.

• While you are crying, God will not take you out, He will supply grace.

• Not everything that doesn’t go as planned is of the devil, some are to enable you press into God.

• Pain is a key in the spirit; there are doors that only pain can open.

• The pain is a journey leading you somewhere; it isn’t the end.

He said a whole lot and I was deeply blessed. To hear more, you can easily download the entire message on YouTube.  

I would like to conclude with the Message Translation of Job 42:5, ‘’I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand – from my own eyes and ears!’’

If at the end of the day all you have is God, then you have more than enough.

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