My first shot at pastoral leadership was shortly after my Year One on campus. My predecessor had graduated handing over a fast growing fellowship to a young guy who just got into Year Two. I wept out my eyes, I could not be comforted for a few days. Thankfully, before the week ran out, God spoke to me from 1 Thessalonians 5:24; that scripture has not left me till now.

Friend, God still gives tough callings. God still demands that you do stuff that you would normally count impossible. If what God is asking you to do is what you have the strength and energy for, it might not be God that you are hearing. Until the assignment seems bigger than you, you would not see the need to leverage God’s grace.

“Faithful is He that has called you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). This is one scripture I would live to remember. I can even quote it while sleeping. Why? It’s not just a scripture, it’s an encounter! This scripture encapsulates the lessons I would need to learn about the call of God. Faithful is He that has called you. The Caller is faithful even when the calling is tough.

The reason we can have Faith is because God is Faithful; our Faith without His Faithfulness is Failure in disguise. There is a divine commitment to a called man; a sent man. Once you are sent on a mission, rest assured that the Faithfulness of the Sender is always with you. This is why you need to be the Sent One, not just the “Went One” (2 Samuel 18:19-32, Romans 10:15).

It’s amazing how God sends a man on a mission and he still has to do it by Himself. This was a major discovery for me that year; He will do it, not me. He will build His Church, not me (Matthew 16:18). He will build His business, not me. Since my marriage is His assignment, I can rest assured that He will build it once I cooperate with Him. God is the builder of all things (Hebrews 3:4).

“Then said Mary unto the angel, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Luke 1:34). Mary was given a tough calling; she needed to know the “How.” The “How” was not going to be “Seven Steps to Birthing the Messiah”; it was going to be “the Holy ghost!” Tough callings require the operations of the Holy ghost (Luke 1:35). He can ride any storm. He can face any opposition or contradiction. He can bring something glorious out of a pitiable situation. With Him, tough callings are a done deal!

PS: On Monday 24th January, 2022, it will be exactly six (6) years since Destiny Impact Church was started in the city of Akure. It has been a tough calling. But we thank God for His faithfulness over the years. Please, keep us in your prayers as you rejoice with us. We give God all the glory!