A young man came to my office and was kind of lamenting; “Sir, can you imagine, as a graduate, I cannot even boast of a hundred naira as I’m speaking with you now.” He was trying to paint how bad things were, despite all his plans and visions. I really felt for him and supplied him some wisdom and perspective. Today, everything has turned around for him.
Friend, as a man of vision, you need to understand that you would have to go through stuff. In fact, what you are going through is because of where you are going to. As we celebrate the glory of the resurrected Christ, we need to be reminded that He went through stuff before He could be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords (Philippians 2:5-11).
What you are going through is not as important as where you are going to. Like Jesus, you need to keep the vision of where you are going to in front of you, if you would have the right understanding and motivation to go through them (Hebrews 12:1-2). The truth is, as a man of vision, you would be tempted to give up, but the vision of the future should keep you going.
Life is in phases and men are in sizes (Ecclesiastes 3:1). As a young man or woman, the time to go through stuff is now that you are young (Lamentation 3:27). You either pay now and play later or play now and pay later. When a young person carries loads on his head in the market it looks normal but when an old man does the same, people wonder what’s wrong.
Don’t only go through the process, grow through it. Jesus Christ learnt obedience through what he suffered (Hebrews 5:8). Paul taught that he learnt how to abase, and abound (Philippians 4:11-13). What are you learning through what you are going through? What are you learning in the crucible of life’s experiences? It would not be easy but it would be worth it.
“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all…” (Romans 8:32). If God did not spare Jesus, He would not spare you too. He would allow you to go through the processes that He has ordained for your destiny to manifest. Sometimes you would suffer hunger, thirst, betrayers and contradictions. It’s all in the mix that produce the fragrance of God’s Glory (2 Corinthians 4:7-12). Amen.
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria
