Hmmm…..how God uses minute
things and situations to teach us big things.
I’m still learning how to drive a
vehicle, but I’m an illegal learner; with an expired learner’s permit and no
learner sign (“L” sign), and I’m not learning under a driving school, I’m been
taught by my Uncle. So, because my learning process is not a legal and proper
one, I’m only allowed to drive within the estate (rules made by my Mom). If I
have anything to do outside the estate I either park at the gate or I allow my
Uncle finish the driving.
Few weeks ago, I needed to get
Suya for my younger brother from a garden just opposite the estate. I took my
Mom’s car, and my Uncle joined me. Despite instructions I had received, I
really wanted to dare (you know just like motivational speakers will say “dare
to be great”, “dare to stand out”, “dare break the rules”…etc; this was exactly
my mind set) break the rules and take the risk. So, I told my Uncle I’ll drive
outside and I’ll even drive into the garden. He agreed but that was on the
basis that I’ll simply follow instructions. Now, that moment I never saw
coming; I tried turning into the garden, but I made an excess turn and
unknowing my foot went straight for the accelerator and then *gboooom*, I
brought down some bricks that were used to protect some flowers. Fortunately, Mom’s car was in good shape, but
the management had asked me to pay for damages or get someone to fix it. I got
someone to fix it for #1,500, but it was late to work so he promised to get it
done the next day, but the management needed to be sure I wasn’t been
fraudulent, so my phone spent the night in their care. What an evening it was
for me. And been a Sunday evening, I had spent the little cash I had on me
during the weekend, so I asked my Mom to lend me the money I was to use to pay
the man who had worked, she gave me but on the condition that I was to return
her money with an interest of 33%. This she did not because she didn’t have the
money to give but I needed to be responsible for my decision.
You might be wondering and
feeling like my Mom was been harsh and not caring but this, I believe God used
to teach me how He walks with us. We’ll have to be responsible for whatever
decision or actions we make. You probably failed as a result of the fact that
you neglected reading when you ought to have and you sit back wondering why God
let you down or why God let you fail, and you ask questions like “God are you
there”? Or you got involved in some kind of “wrong” acts and you ended up with
an illness or something else, and you go thinking that God didn’t keep watch
over you or God has brought shame upon you. Can you see God’s mercies in the
midst of all these?
My Mom gave me her car; I didn’t
pay for the ware and tare, neither did I pay for the fuel, neither did I pay
for the meal I ate that night after all the damage I had done. That is mercy
(it seems small right?). besides, she instructed me as regards what to do since
my method was illegal; assuming I had my learner’s permit or even my learner’s
sign on the car, the management of the garden, would have fixed the damage
themselves (that’s the law), but I chose to “dare”, and situations “dared” me
too, and I was ignorant of this fact, there I was thinking that my Mom didn’t
want me to take a risk. That’s how it works with God. In one’s walk with God;
He stays close by to feed you and He tells you things that pleases Him and He
shows you how best it is to enjoy Him in every ramification. Now, the moment
you decide to “dare” something else, He ain’t going watch you bare the total
grunt but you’ll still have to be responsible for that act. You didn’t die in
the process of doing wrong; you didn’t lose any part of your body while in that
act; you were not rusticated because you failed, or even if you were
rusticated, you probably got another admission. That’s God’s mercy; He’ll still
be there to shield you, but you need to learn from your wrong. You might be
thinking God is caging you or doesn’t want you to “enjoy” life and doesn’t want
you exploring the world, but hey! what life is as beautiful as life spent with
and in God? Remember David? He enjoyed God’s mercy, but when he goofed, he had
to learn and take responsibility for what he chose, and in the midst of this,
he still saw God. Remember Samson? Remember Jonah?... a whole bunch of others.
Now,
let us review our lives, in the midst of certain challenges or some crisis we
drew to ourselves (unconsciously), surely we have discovered some happy
incidences refreshing to ourselves and glorifying God. Surely, there has been
deliverance; we have passed through fires unharmed; hath He not listened to you
and answered your prayers? Why not exalt His name for been so merciful rather
than magnify the fires around you? David, who had bore the pain of this
decision to commit adultery, still said in Ps.
103:2, “With
all my heart I praise the LORD! I will never forget how kind he has been.” In same Ps.
103:8-10, he said, “The LORD is merciful! He is kind and patient, and his
love never fails. The LORD won't always be angry and point out our sins; He
doesn't punish us as our sins deserve.”(CEV)
Surely, the Lord has been merciful despite our wrongs. “Forget not all His benefits”.
