Recently, I began doing some thinking about a rather disturbing issue in my life.
A couple of days ago, I asked my boss what area of my life he thinks I need to work on. Prior to this conversation, he’d been saying – much to my surprise and excitement – how much I’ve matured as a person over the last couple of months. He seemed to discern some growth in my personality I was quite oblivious to. I won’t tell you the answer he gave to my question but this is what had been going on with me which led to me asking that question: I wondered why I felt I wasn’t getting to the heights of growth and maturity I eagerly desired.
In my own eyes, I sometimes feel like there’s very little change and mostly, it feels like I’m just the same person I was a couple of years back and it’s desperately depressing when you get there. Thank God for encouraging news and compliments – like from my boss – to our heartcry for growth and maturity, that something is happening. And here’s what I’ve gathered from that:
Many times we want to get to the destination without going through the journey.
It feels as though the outcome is more desirous than how to get there. Of course, who wouldn’t admire that? I remember stories of how many people would go forward to a certain man of God for he to pray for them that they may receive a double portion of his anointing. Bold dreams. He would then ask them if they are willing to pay the price. Certainly they say yes, until they hear his story. Then they wince and their steps back to their seat are not as swift as when they came to him. I really don’t need to remind you about the stories of some the popular men of God in our time now.
I heard recently that there was a time T.D Jakes would have service and it would be just him and his family. He’d arrange the place for the service himself and clear up after service by himself. Currently, he has a church that is almost an entire city and he hires many people to do the set up and clear up for him. I’m sure there are many more stories like that, and many complex and depressing narratives just like Bishop Jakes’ beginning. But what makes them stand is their commitment to the journey.
The destination of any place or point in life is as important as the journey it takes to get there. I mean, apart from Magic or witchcraft, or some supernatural means, whoever gets to their destination without some effort of traveling? But it is the one thing lacking most in our time. Some people blame it on the nature of the current dispensation — the smart and “fast” generation. I’m sure some scientists somewhere are planning how they can help people to give birth instantly. Imagine even our appearance on earth even takes time and a journey to complete, and it is difficult. Waiting for any effect to actualize (after a cause has been set in motion) is a difficult thing to do. It is one of the most difficult things I’m having to learn as a growing adult.
Take time to appreciate the journeys in your life. You don’t become a fast reader by your first attempt at reading. You don’t become a brave and courageous person overnight in your attempt to overcome fear and timidity. You don’t become a millionaire just because you joined a network marketing company or you started your own business. You don’t become a prayer warrior overnight. You don’t all of a sudden get ‘breezy’ with the Holy Spirit like Pastor Benny Hynn or Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. You don’t become a great leader and a great friend just by chance or without any effort — if you were not lucky like I’m not. You cultivate. You nurture. It takes time, it takes effort. And that’s what I call the journey — and if you don’t appreciate it, you’ll find it hard to believe that you can make it to your destination one day.
That dreamland of a perfect temper, a disciplined life, overcome depression, and all those things sitting far away from us now, we will get there if we stop beating ourselves up and go through the journey. While at it, don’t be discouraged that nothing is happening. Like my boss, there are others who may see the transformation perhaps much earlier and better than we do.
p.s Another amazing freestyle piece by Eden, a Christian poet with a passion for missions. For more of his works, visit akwasikrom.wordpress.com 🤗🤗🤗