Monday, February 7, 2011

My Ynaija Post: My Mess, My Growth

Pilgrim’s Progress: My mess, my growth

I do not like stress or anything that poses a threat to the equilibrium in my world. Just like every human being, I do everything within my power to restore balance as fast as I can. I particularly hate being broke; and it has proved time and time again to be one of my most dreaded inconveniences. “I know both how to abound, and how to abase, ” Paul says in Phil 4: 12; but I must confess that I’m still learning to appreciate the merits of abasement.

I would not be who I am today without all the troubles that have plagued me since my life began. I’m sure you have heard stars and great men say this in interviews, when they are asked the secret to their greatness.

It’s no news that challenges lead us to growth and troubles inspire greatness. Throughout last week, a particular verse of Scripture was going through my mind;  “And let patience have her perfect  work, that you may be perfect and entire lacking nothing” ( James 1: 4).
The Lord has been saying, “In your bid to cut short the life span of your challenges and to extract an instant wave-of- a-magical-wand above all your troubles, you will miss out on what I am trying to achieve by all of it.

“You’re trying to achieve something, Lord?

“Of course, he says, can’t you see how different your life is from when you began ‘going through’”.

“Hmmmm”, I respond.

Yes, we talk that way, my Lord and I. You should try it; therapeutic to say the least.

Every young person deals with various issues at different points. If we are not trying to gain admission into college, we are trying to graduate or dealing with the incessant exams. Or we’re dealing with relationships or marriages, struggling to overcome the pressure of our peers while trying to project the emerging identity of our true selves.

I am going through my own crises; essentially a crises of identity and refusing to accept the labels of the world and instead accepting the name that the Lord has given me; Hepzibah which means Delighted.

It is a crucial time for us; our youth – a time to establish foundations and utilize the debris, the stones, the rough gravel, the gritty sand to build a sturdy and stable future.
In the interim it will be tough, I know. I’m ‘going through’, remember? But I know the end is a fully formed individual – bold, sure, wise, impactful and above all living the destiny for which she was made.

Embrace your struggles, for in them lie the potential for greatness.

Here’s a fledging attempt at poetry. I hope you will be blessed:

Lo, behold a magnificent building
Where, where, I see it not
Here, here, right before your eyes
Where, where, I see it not

Lo, behold a magnificent building
Where, where, I see it not
All I see is gravel; broken and jagged
All I see is stones; big and small

Lo, behold a magnificent building
Where, where, I see it not
All I see is cement, grey and unassuming
All I see is sand, dry and gritty

Lo, behold a magnificent building
Where, where I see it not
All I see is water, tepid and colourless
All I see is a builder in the shadow of the son of man

Lo, behold a magnificent building
Where, where I see it not
Come back on the morrow
For your eyes may be clear just then

Lo, behold a magnificent building
I see, I see, a magnificent building
But I see no gravel or stones
No cement, or sand, or water

Lo, behold a magnificent building
‘Twas all of those that made the building
For that is the stuff of which magnificent buildings are made
A broken, ugly mess of raw materials.

Photo credits: http://www.ynaija.com/

7 comments:

  1. Ha! HIS name is not JEHOVAH JIREH for nothing!

    HE would provide ALL our NEEDS [& not WANTS] according to HIS riches in GLORY through JESUS CHRIST our LORD...amen.
    Take care.

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  2. @Ibhade... Indeed.. I'm learning to trust him day by day!

    @Lloyd..thank you for reading. I appreciate it a lot. I'll follow your blog immediately.

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  3. aww really loved this post. thanks for ministering to my soul :p
    and ur poem is lovely too :)

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  4. Oh Berry, I wish there was something I could add to it, but you said it all. Thanks for blessing my heart and for the encouragement. God bless you sis!

    Love you,
    Enyonam

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  5. @Kitkat...thank yopu dear.. I'm so blessed to know that it ministered to you...and thanks for liking my poem. :)

    @Enyonam..thank you, and love you too! :)

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  6. God bless you for this post.
    Make sure you keep the poems coming.
    Good job

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  7. Naijamum.. :) I will, So help me God!

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