FRIDAY - 5TH APRIL, 2024
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO
ARE YOU WORRIED OVER THAT CHILD?
Read John 7:1-7
John 7:6, KJV
"Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready."
If it was my frame that was looked upon when men were being called into Christian leadership on campus, I would have been definitely jumped over. I thank God and I thank the honest Spirit led people who would stay by what God told them. This especially goes to Anglican Students' Fellowship, Tai Solarin University of Education which opened me to other leadership appointments on campus. If I was never a president at fellowship level first of all, I wouldn't have been nominated or qualified for other offices (especially of presidency) that I occupied at the State Chapter of my fellowship or at Christian Union on my campus. I reminisced that road, gave God the glory while asking Him to fulfill the rest that He has preordained.
Many parents are seriously worried over their children. There is this desire in parents for their children - especially those from their bowels to do well. They want to see them fly and that right early. This expectation of success and achievement is so paramount that even when a baby delays to walk, the mum especially might slip into worry. Yes, big time worry! Such heart that cares and wants the best for the child isn't bad. We all got that feeling of special concern and care from God. It's what makes a parent indeed.
However, in the process of wanting them to fly, you might push them too much while seeking for performance. If they respect you, they'll continue to trudge under the burden of your pressure. However, when pushed to the wall, they might defy you or chart another cause stubbornly for themselves as suited their nature and the way of life they're feeling bubbling inside them. You'd just be thrown into the surprise of your life. As such, I'll say, "let the young grow." There's nothing as blessed as coming of age without being ripened immaturely. There's always a disaster that follows immature ripening. However, confidence and preparedness of the soul that money can't buy will flow from inside your ward when you allow time to grow them into what you're expecting of them. Instead of comparing A with B who had climbed and scaled faster, it'll be good if you rather provide support and all the necessary encouragement that will grow the other. The path of A may not be B's. What they're called to become also might necessitate a call on what they'll give attention to. As such, the difference in lifestyle.
Jesus' brethren told Him to go up to Jerusalem and be revealed to the world (though said that out of unbelief). However, that's actually the concern of many parents. They want their wards revealed to the world. If Segun, the son of the neighbour plays the saxophone in church and receives applause, why can't our own get into something worthy of such public attention since they're of the same age. Parents force their wards into unreadied actions this way. Jesus' brethren sought to prompt Jesus Himself into action by pressuring Him to reveal Himself to the world by going into Judea. Whereas, Jesus recognizes that His time is not yet. Your child may also have the recognition that the time is not yet while you are caught up with his making an appearance or a debut. You might make the mistake of pushing harder until you irritate him or even force the less bold out of their convictions. This will birth a lot of heartaches that will cause you regret later in the future. Most times, melancholy children are usually not ready when they're predicted for readiness. Not that they don't have the substance; only that they want to manifest at their own sensed time. As such, they may be waiting for the cloud to gather. Due to their reluctance and love of indoor (being introverts), parents might fret over them or force them to be revealed to the world. Children won't be all the same. Some at times may show rareness or slowness of progress in something but to catch up later. If you'll let them alone, if you'll let practice and time have its full effect on them, they shall come out majestically in performance than you could ever have predicted. Narrating my campus journey earlier reminded me of myself and how anyone could have thought I was slow. I never sought the public view until the time of my showing forth on campus. I might have even been derided as incapable because I didn't exhume obvious or extraordinary graces. However, I was ready and prepared on the inside - just waiting for the right time to be revealed. When such time avails itself in the offices that were availed me, I came forth to show my worth through Christ who strengthened me. That eventual delivery of mine could have been someone's expectation of me. They could have looked forward to it and be surprised at such graces eventually displayed by me in leadership. However, if they had hurried it or hurried me, they probably might not have seen it in its best. I thank God my family, especially my parents allowed me to find my path also. They didn't choose or seek to even pressure me into finding my foot once. All happened as one event led to another as ordained to happen.
There's a time of manifestation. Naturally, God created everyone to know this time. If purpose or calling is in you, you'll always have a sense of fate directing you. You'll have an awareness of what next and what's not and so will be able to resist it firmly. That's why Jesus could say "His time is not yet" amidst acting in wisdom as to be protected from the Jews who sought to kill Him. Brethren, don't be worried over that child of yours? He'll walk! She'll catch up! He'll sure deliver...only that his or her time may seem not to be yet. He's shock full of potentials and though it looks as though he's crowd intimidated now, he shall all overcome all to manifest very big. Your kid may be showing reluctance somewhere, that doesn't eliminate his being gifted or useful. Reluctance may be a pointer to unreadiness or the untimeliness of an event. When the time is ripe and he launches, he won't disgrace you but God shall be praised through and through.
PRAYER: Lord, sensitize me to the time of destiny and manifestation over my children. May I not cause their death, harm, withdrawal by forcing manifestation on them when their season is not.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26, Luke 10:38-11:13, Psalm 76:1-12, Proverbs 12:15-17
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