It is well known that there cannot be a meaningful, prosperous life without a single challenge that would come around to rock the boat once in a while and when that happens be rest assured it is not end of life.
There have not been an individual who suddenly became great without having to contend with the forces of life. Even those born with silver spoon must grow through life and overcome personal challenges before enjoying the largesse of their parents’ wealth.
The Bible in Psalms 34:19 says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all” – this passage is supposedly a sooting balm for everyone who is hurting from one challenge or the other.
Afterall, Jesus Christ has not promised us a life without challenge. No, what He has promised is His presence to hold us by the hands and lead us through the difficulties of life triumphantly. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”.
End of life is a critical period in the life of anyone
In early December 2022 news of the Brazilian football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento (popularly known as Pele) being moved to the end-of-life care erupts and throws the world into a state of mourning even before a final death was announced.
This news likely captivated the world for the departure of a football star while his mother still lives – so, it was a lot to take in for those who know about the wonders of the man and an intriguing development for young people who love the football sport.
Notwithstanding, all the glory and achievements of the Brazilian legend were also at the end of life with him at the stage he was no longer responding to chemotherapy.
So it is safe to say that an ‘end of life’ is a stage of hopelessness, a state where there is no longer an expectation for survival.
You are not yet at that end of life unless you giving-in to the pressure but as much as you hold your head high (despite the many tribulations in your life) you will be victorious at the end, soon.
There is always hope when you choose life
When Nigerian football star, Victor Osimhen, was living in abject poverty, selling satchet water under scorching sun in Lagos traffic after their Landlord already threw their belongings to the street for failing to pay house rent – little did he know that, years later, he would become world celebrated and treated as ‘son of the soil’ all the way from an Italian city of the Naples.
Victor did not end his life despite difficulties, rather, he kept pursuing his goals of a better life and today he is known beyond Nigeria. This is to prove that choosing to end one’s life during difficulties will not end the problems but will only transfer pains on our loved ones.
To this end, the best solution to every difficult situation will be to hold on to the promise(s) of God for one’s life and be hopeful as the Bible rightly says, “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion” – Eccl. 9:4.
Even our Lord Jesus Christ, at the crucial point in His life looked beyond the difficult task (of death on the cross) that was laid before Him and clinged to hope. At the end of it all He emerged victorious to the point he could say, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” – Mat. 28:18b.
Relatable examples of people who grew from humble beginning into limelight
This is an attempt to let you know that there are people who have gone through the same expeiriences you are going through at the moment (and are now reknown for their great achievements).
Your attention will be needed in observing how these individuals were able to overcome their challenges so that you can discover what to replicate in your situations in order to get the desired results.
Our first example is Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
From grass to grace history of Pastor E. A. Adeboye of RCCG
Pastor Adeboye came from a poor family. According to him, he was without a pair of shoes until he reached the age of 18. Pastor Adeboye’s life changed gradually after accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Before his days as Lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Lagos, his parents were said to have sold some of their valuables and borrowed around to make him acquire education. Yet, while having a blossoming career with a family of his own – the devil attempted to steal their daughter through sickness, it was at this point they got into the RCCG (in search of healing for their daughter).
In the process, Pastor Adeboye became interpreter to the uneducated founder of RCCG, late Reverend Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi and, thereafter, became Pastor of the church after the demise of the founder (kindly note that while Reverend Akindayo was undeducated he could still read the bible in his native language).
At this point some members of the church leadership who have been there since commencement of the ministry were not in support of Pastor Adeboye’s ascension into this new role and, thus, attempted to frustrate him at every turn.
Regardless of their attempts God granted Pastor Adeboye the wisdom to douse the escalating tension among the leaders but the ministry still struggled through various stages, one of which was the inability to take care of the Pastor and his family.
Pastor Adeboye is now at that stage where (all over the world) people respect his person and words through the grace of God on him.
The life struggle of former South African leader, Mandela
Late and former South African President, Nelson Mandela, did not start out life from comfort zone, even, his journey to becoming president in the aparthied country was fraught with all kind of difficulties that he had to overcome.
His father died when he was just 12 years old and he dropped out of studies more than once, largly due to financial incapacity, but later obtained a BA from the University of South Africa (while still in prison).
Mandela was, on several occassions, imprisoned by the South African Government for his involvement in uprising against the aparthied system. In the process of struggles he lost a child and his marriage of 12 years with his first wife, Evelyn Mase.
At the end of it all, after spending about 26 years or more in prison, Mandela regained freedom and went on to become South African first democratically elected president. His struggles paid off but at other costs for him also, he had to overcome some personal challenges to achieve his goals.
Trials are, should be refining fire for every believer
As we round-off this discourse, it should be noted that the worth of a gold is defined by the amount of fire it could withstand to come out as shining as it could get.
In this wise, the challenges you are going through should not be the end of life for you; those challenges must not stop you from dreaming again – your Redeemer, Jesus Christ, is near and He will rescue you from all troubles that you are going through.
Brace yourself for the journey ahead. You have got a lot to achieve and the devil with his host of angels cannot stop you from becoming all that God has created you to become simply because ‘greater is the one dwelling in you than the devil and his hosts who dwell in the world’ – 1 John 4:4.
