Of Wishes and Answers; Sensitivity and Discernment

When you are desirous for a particular thing, or to grow certain character traits, the answer doesn’t always come in the way you expect.

Let me rephrase.

Most times, when you pray or ask to seek to be grounded in a particular thing, the answer does not come as expected.

God creates scenarios and opportunities that help usher in such answers.

Necessity is the mother of invention, they say (though a friend has argued this with me over time, speaking plenty of English with a contrary opinion).

Say, for instance, you ask to be more patient. Patience doesn’t come like sudden wind and drop on you. You won’t suddenly see the light like Saul on the way to Damascus.

Patience comes in form of situations. Trying moments. Stretching crisis. Overbearing children. Hard-to-please boss. Annoying cousin. Stubborn child.

That’s why you may decide not to use curse words on your kids, or be mean to your staff, or the annoying touts in the market and suddenly, everything they do, seem to push you to say those words. If you’re not careful you’d curse till your throat is parched.

How do you identify this?

Do you want to be more tolerant? Check that reoccurring ‘stuff’’ that always wants to stretch/try your limit.

Do you want to be more generous? It comes as situations that would test your resolve to give to others.

Want to be more knowledgeable? It may come in quests that would warrant you to seek information. They could be you enrolling for a class, going to learn a skill, upskill, applying for an opportunity, etc.

You gerrit, rai?

Your answer comes in different ways. Most often, ways you least expect.

…

As the week begins, and a new month beckons, pray to recognise the answers to your prayers when they arrive.

They may NOT come the way you anticipate.

They MAY come in hidden forms.

Most often, your answers are there, staring you in the face. But lack of understanding happens. And you’re stuck in a cycle.

Be sensitive and discerning enough to know when your solution comes.

Else, you may miss out and may have to wait for another season/cycle/time.

I don’t agree opportunity comes once like we’ve been made to believe.

They come again and again. Their frequency only varies. While some come quicker than we expect, others may have to take a long time before they resurface.

Some may just be starring us in the face over and over. Until we recognise and take heed and do the needful.

Sensitivity. Discernment. Great tools needed.

You need to be discerning enough to know what that situation holds for you.

Discern what that sudden opportunity has come to do.

Discern what that ugly package has come to help you unravel.

Discern why that neighbour behaves the way s/he does. What do you need to learn from their behaviour?

Know why that hatred comes from certain quarters.

Discern why that ‘temptation’ arrived when it did.

Why that deal did not click.

Why that colleague acts the way s/he does.

Why that disappointment had to arrive at the time it did.

Wai dis, wai dat.

Ighotago?

Just discern. Be sensitive.

Then act on it.

And as you do, you will gradually discover that your answers lie therein.

You’d look back, and be grateful you saw through it. And took action.

Don’t always expect beautiful seamless answers.

Read in between the lines.

…

Like my kid sis once told me, good things don’t always come in attractive packages.

Tear through the wrapping sheet. Unravel.

Read. Inbetween. The. Lines.

Don’t always look for answers full of clarity; discernable, easy-peasy, action-laden.

Just be sensitive enough to understand what stares you in the face.

Then, take action.

May we understand our times and seasons.

May we identify our answers when they arrive.

Amen.

Never forget-I’m always rooting for you.

Oya, bai bai.

…

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