Deep Waters

While reading the YouVersion verse of the day for 30th May (Is.43:2), the phrase deep waters stuck to me, or more like hit me like a tornado. Life as I’m sure we have learnt has different seasons, some are sunny, without a cloud in the sky, while others look like the skies of London. Grey everywhere, without a drop of sunshine. Herein lies the beauty of the reassurance God gives us in Is. 43:2 (NLT): 

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; 

the flames will not consume you.

When I think of deep waters I remember back in 2017, there was a day it rained cats and dogs in Lagos. I made the error of thinking it wasn’t that bad till I had to pilot my tiny Skoda through the floods, the water level went as high as the bonnet of my car. Suddenly, the car started jerking, all I could think of was “God, please don’t switch off here”. Because if it did, not only would I have been stuck, the car would have likely been damaged beyond repair or to the tune of millions of naira. No jokes! Even worse was that this happened while I was in the season of difficulty.

In this season, I was unemployed, had run through my savings, and it seemed like there was no end in sight. The only thing that had stopped me from moving back to my mum’s house was ego, now that I look back at it. It was in this season I heard and learnt (from Pst. Nkoyo Rapu) what Paul meant in Phil. 4:12-13 (NKJV) when he said “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need”. Through it all, God was faithful. Not once did I drown in this season, God kept me afloat all through.

The children of Israel are another set of people that had lived out this verse. The Bible in Gen. 15:13 (NKJV) talked about the coming season they were to face, 400 years of slavery! When they finally gained their freedom, you’d think they would have it easy for at least some time. Nothing could be further from the truth. They had to cross the Red Sea (Ex. 14), the Jordan River (Joshua 3), and fight against so many enemies just to get to the promised land. But guess what, not once did God disappoint them. He was with them all through and pulled them through with His valiant right hand (Is. 59:1; Ps. 118:16, NLT).

You may be in the deep waters of life at this very moment. Perhaps you got a rejection letter, lost a loved one, or have been given a piece of disappointing news. I’m here to tell you that God is faithful (1 Cor. 1:9, AMPC) like He has promised in Is. 43:2, He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deut 31:6-8). Just be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9). In one of my favourite animations, Finding Nemo, there is a line by Dory that resounded around the world: Just keep swimming. That is my charge to you. As you go through the deep waters of life, just keep swimming. God is with you always, till the end of time (Matt. 28:20, NLT).

Photo cred: Tijori Box

My Response Is Hallelujah

Happy birthday to Sage Onomsky! I thank God for adding another year to my life. Looking back, I don’t think I’ve ever done a birthday post. When I woke up, the only thing that was on my mind was “You have rescued my life” from Phil Thompson’s song- My Response. I heard it for what seems like the first time in church yesterday and it just stuck with me. I don’t know if anyone else does it, but when I hear a phenomenal song in church, I immediately search for it on Google. 

The song’s lyrics are simple but it got me thinking of the numerous times God rescued my life, some of them of my own making. But not once did God say: it’s good for you, I tried to warn you now go and suffer. Each time I ran to Him, He welcomed me back with open arms (Luke 15) on each occasion. Paul says that where there is sin, grace abounds (Rom. 5:20), but that does not mean we should continue to sin (Rom. 6:1-2).

This is something that took me a while to learn but on my birthday, all I can say to God is thank you for rescuing me. God is still in the business of grace, He hasn’t stopped rescuing anyone that needs it. As you step into the month of May, take advantage of the valiant right hand of God that does great and mighty things (Ps. 118:15-16, NIV). God loves you so much (John 3:16, Rom. 5:6-8) that He asked you to come boldly and ask for grace and mercy (Heb. 4:16). God is standing at the door of your heart, waiting for you to let Him in (Rev. 3:20). What is your response?

Photo Cred: YouVersion