Life: Synonym for Trouble
Written by Jennifer Azubuike Due to the sensitivity of this content, I would like to begin by sharing a personal testimony. Several years ago, when I was still in school, I had a challenging experience at the start of a semester that I will draw a lesson from. My training program was rigorous, especially at the school where I trained; several rules and regulations made the program strict. The program required me to write exams every other week throughout some semesters, and I was preparing to take the first one during a particular semester when something unusual happened. * * * When I arrived, the door was already locked, but the exam supervisor spotted me through a small fancy opening at the top of the door and quietly came out to meet me. “What happened? Why are you just arriving?” She queried me, concerned. I was too embarrassed to find my words. I stared back, speechless for a second. In all honesty, I didn’t have an explanation because I don’t know how it happened. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” I managed to utter, feeling confused. After a few minutes of questioning and failing to draw an explanation from me for my tardiness, nearly one hour after the exam had begun, she excused herself to call a coordinator. I could feel my heart thumping hard in my chest. What would be my fate? It was the constant question that ran through my mind. She returned with her cellphone lit and faced me again. “I can’t let you in.” She said. “You need to go talk to Dr. San immediately.” Dr. San’s office was located in a different building. I turned around and scurried off. Somehow, I believed that the faster I could talk to Dr. San, the quicker I could get started with my exam. A few hours prior, I had gotten up early the moment my alarm went off. I went through my morning routine and got ready with some time to spare. I lived on campus, and the exam venue was just a short distance across the street, so I decided to review my notes before heading out to the exam venue. Honestly, I don’t know what happened, but when I looked at my clock again, it was about forty minutes past my scheduled exam start time. I panicked and sprinted down to the venue, worried that I wouldn’t have enough time to write my exam, only to be told that, according to school policy, late arrivals after a specified time were excluded from taking the exam, and I had arrived significantly after that time. No amount of begging or apologizing changed their minds, but I tried anyway. When it was clear that I had missed the exam I had diligently prepared for, I went back to my room, devastated. It was devastating because I considered myself too disciplined to be that careless; additionally, I was afraid of failing, so I cried, but soon my tears turned into prayers. While I was praying, a clear and unmistakable thought suddenly registered in my mind. “You will graduate with your class!” It was a quiet, yet clear, voice in my head. I paid attention to it, believed it, and was comforted; I did graduate with my class. The Lord told Israel in Isaiah 43:2 ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.‘ Life has thrown difficulties at people since time immemorial, such that Job exclaimed, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” However, the promise to a person who trusts in God on their journey through life is that in times of difficulty, God is with you, not selectively, but at all times, and can deliver you, regardless of whether you caused the difficulty or not. Depending on the situation, there may be emotional turmoil that often overwhelms the voice of faith and reason. Be reminded that the love of God for us is not dependent on our emotions, just as they do not change His promise. Therefore, we must manage our emotions so we don’t take actions fueled by them – those are often dangerous. Imagine if I had given up after missing that exam. How to manage tumultuous emotions? Ground yourself – If many thoughts are running through the mind, especially causing worry and anxiety, get up from a thinking position and allow your feet to touch the ground if they weren’t. Change position, e.g, step outside or take a shower. Find a trusted friend or family member and share how you feel in that moment, even if you don’t go into details—request a prayer. For Christians, I found that the Holy Spirit often takes hold of words from another believer to convey a message He has been trying to communicate to a person. Encourage yourself What are God’s promises to you? It is time to recite them non-stop until they seep into your spirit. Reflect on past victories – has God given you victories before? Reflect on those testimonies. Meditate on God’s word. The Holy Spirit lives in a Christian. He is a comforter, and the amount of God’s word in you is what He works with. Seek God. Pray enquiry prayers, and seek a word from the Lord about the situation, then hold on to it. Till next time. Stay lifted. Find another uplifting post here.
