Gbenga’s Story: Still He Gave Thanks…

Gbenga dropped down under the heavy weight of his failures in life.

He had always been a failure; today had just served to reconfirm what He already knew.

1,2, 1,2,3… Pastor Nat had said during Hallelujah challenge. 1,2, 1,2,3 indeed.
He had indeed been slam dunked under 1,2, 1,2,3…

First he had thought that this year will be the year he would get married to that woman God had been telling him about for years. He really felt like he heard right. What happened?

He allowed himself to go down memory lane since he had nothing better to do.

He still remembered vividly the dream he had had about this lady. She was his wife!
The Holy Spirit had even spoken through his mentor too. Where did he go wrong?

He had prayed and gotten confirmation and then he had asked her…
Annabelle was his colleague at work and they had an easy going work relationship. He knew that she is a Christian because they had had brief moments of conversation prior to that time but the disdain that showed on her face when he asked her out couldn’t have come from that of a Christian.

He replayed the hurtful conversation in his head again.

“Annabelle please I would like to see you after work”.

Annabelle had raised her eyebrows but agreed. She probably thought it was a work related issue.

He had taken her into the conference room and spilled his heart to her.

At the end of it all, all she said was “thank you. I am engaged”.

He died.
And had been dieing over and over again since that time.

Funny enough, her NO had come on the very day of Hallelujah challenge that Pastor Nat had declared 1,2, 1,2,3.

Where was his multiple blessings?

Today he had stepped into work to meet a termination of appointment letter on his desk.

He had been a contract staff at Mass Link Communications for the past two years. He had thought that he would be employed as a full time staff after today as a promotion but that was obviously just a figment of his imagination.

Lord.. what do I do?

My life seems like such a mess…

You said ask that your joy may be full…

Is this what I get for asking?

“…he gave thanks..”

His mind kept wiring on..

I have nothing to fall back on. No wife. No job. No business. At 35, my life is still a mess.

“…he gave thanks…”

I may as well go back to my parents house. This house rent expires in three months. I don’t have enough saved up to renew…
Even the house isn’t fine sef.. I have been managing it. Is this the kind of house my mates stay in?
Now I can’t even afford this again.

“…he gave thanks…”

He stopped his diatribe for a minute.

“…he gave thanks…”
“…he gave thanks…”

“…he gave thanks…”

Gbenga stopped for a bit.

But Lord can’t you see me the way I am?
Grown man like I am. Just sitting on the floor and crying. Which kain life is this?

I have known ans served since I was 17. Never wavering. Only a few times did I falter. By your grace Lord but still.
Even when I preach about marriage God’s way I never still marry. Men have insulted me. Even when I preach about prosperity in the Kingdom. See the job that I do…

“Still…he gave thanks…”

I don’t know if I can Lord.
If I muster any breath in me now to say thank you.

“Still…he gave thanks…”

Gbenga bowed his head.

He remembered the man who wrote it is well with my soul who lost everything including his children.

It is well with my soul?

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”
Hebrews 13:15 NKJV

Now He understood.
Sacrifice of praise?
Fruit of our lips?

He knelt down.
Plugged in his ears with “Lion of Judah.. my trust is in you…”

He tried to sing along. The feeling of failure overwhelmed him. His eyes felt like they were practically leaking. His tears were so much.

The sun comes up
It’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass
And whatever lies before me
Let me be singing
When the evening comes..

This was his evening. He tried again..

Let me be singing
When the evening comes..

He couldn’t kneel any longer. He prostated under the weight of pain.

Bless the Lord O my soul
O my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name

The sun comes up
It’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass
And whatever lies before me
Let me be singing
When the evening comes

You’re rich in love
And You’re slow to anger
Your name is great
And Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing

Ten thousand reasons
For my heart to find

And on that day
When my strength is failing
The end draws near
And my time has come
Still my soul will
Sing Your praise unending

Ten thousand years
And then forevermore

 

Songs from the Spirit began to wash over him.

I cannot call on your name and end up in shame..
No way… no way
I cannot kneel before you… and kneel before men..
No way.. no way..
YOU ARE MY GOD….
YOU ARE MY GOD…

Gbenga thought as he sang..

Who was his god?
A sack letter?
Annabelle?

No.

YOU ARE MY GOD…

YOU ARE THE ONE WHO HOLDS THE STRINGS OF MY LIFE. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CREATED ME. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CONTROLS MY DESTINY..

YOU ARE MY GOD!

Suddenly he could feel a burst of joy.
Peace.
Joy.

He cried and wept sore as waves of God’s glory casacaded over him.

YOU ARE MY GOD.

Suddenly he heard: as a Father carries a son in his hands, so will I carry you.
And in blessing I will bless you. So that you won’t even be able to cry out for the swiftness and magnitude of it.

In Blessing I will bless you Gbenga.
I will bless you.

*******

Gbenga woke up in the morning refreshed.

Thank you Father…

He took his bible and pen to his little quiet time corner and suddenly began to hear “start your own telecommunications company”.

He was startled.

And sat glued to his chair as the Holy Spirit practically gave him step by step details on starting up a telecommunications company.

Who would have thought?

Oh thank you Jesus!

His heart sang..

Thank you Jesus!

“And as for your marriage Gbenga.”..He heard the Holy Spirit say…
“2018 is my year for the coming togther of Kingdom marriages. It shall happen faster than you think. 35 years of age is not a barrier to my plans.
Your father Abraham was 100…”

Trust the Holy Spirit to jab him.

And all he could say was THANK YOU LORD.

 

**

 

Study Questions And Insights:

“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.”
Luke 9:16‭-‬17 NIV

***
It’s Monday again.
January 22nd 2018.
Another time to complain or another time to start right.
The best way to start right is TO GIVE THANKS.

No matter what you are facing right now. Maybe you are like Gbenga.

Maybe your finances are depleted…

Lets follow our Master’s example.

Whatever you thank the Lord for, the Lord shall multiply.

Have a BEAUTIFUL week ahead.

I love you.

Hephzibah Frances.

____________________________

Joyful News:

If you are an aspiring author, don’t miss out on joining the “self-publishing class” holding this Friday and Saturday January 26th&27th 2018.

COME LEARN THR PROCESS OF BIRTHING THAT WHICH GOD HAS PUT IN YOU.
We will deal with:

1: Chosing your book title
2: Filling up your book chapters
3: Getting your ISBN
4: choosing a printer
5: The world of eBooks
6: Marketing your book right –
–
Date: Friday and Saturday January 26th&27th 2018

Fee: 3000Naira only

Venue: WhatsApp –
–
Pay the fee into:
Frances Okoro
0153528160
Gtbank
And confirm by emailing beautifulfeetpublishing@gmail.com
See you!