I'll like to share a bit today about discerning when to pursue and when to relax. I have 2 stories to share and a scripture to conclude.
Story 1
I paid out of pocket for a course organised by the professional association I belong to and I needed the receipt to claim my money back from my organization. As usual (for me), I realised that I had lost the receipt.
I was going to sit in my corner and mourn my loss but my friend encouraged me to get to the association's office to ask to make a photocopy of their copy of the receipt.
It would require some effort and every lazy bone in me resisted the move, lol.
I finally overcame the inertia and went to the office. The lady I met there claimed that all the booklets had been sent to Abuja. My lazy bones were screaming "I told you so" but I couldn't imagine going back with no receipt.
I rarely beg anyone for favors (one of the issues my friends have with me, lol) but for some reason I refused to leave the office.
I remembered a post I had put up about "Lessons from Nehemiah" so while standing there, I prayed to the God of Heaven to show me what my next step ought to be.
As I stood there, a man came in to tell Madam that he couldn't help her print her son's JAMB (or whatever it's called now) score from their website. I watched them as they fiddled around trying to solve the problem. After a few minutes, I asked if I could try to help. After performing some 'magic', I printed the score for her, lol.
After that, the booklet that had been sent to Abuja mysteriously reappeared in the Lagos office. She even stamped documents that didn't need stamps and began to tell me the story of the boy whose JAMB scores I printed...how she adopted him etc.
Story 2
I applied for registration along with some of my friends. We all submitted our forms on the same day. I think I did the bulk of the work that day sef and even lost some money in the process. Part of the verification process involves checking with my university. One of my friends graduated from the same department as I did (different years).
When the list of successful applicants came out, my name was not there. Of course, my friends had to be sensitive and not be overjoyful (My friends are good people, hehehe).
I got the number of someone in Abuja to understand why my name was not on the list. The man kept telling me to call him back in 30 minutes then won't pick the calls.
After about 3 weeks of doing this dance, he finally told me that my school has not responded to their request. It's surprising that the school responded in my friend's case and not mine...Ironically, I was the one that encouraged my friend to get registered.
I could begin to chase what's causing the delay in my school or I could wait for the 1 month the man asked me to check back. I think it's wiser to wait, right?
When David and his community were attacked and their city burnt down as a result of their minding other people's business instead of theirs (See 1 Samuel 29-30), the first question David asked God was "Shall I pursue?"
I think that's a sensible question for us all to ask when we are faced with challenges. Too many of us are holding on to careers; businesses, relationships etc that we need to either let go or relax about while some other gave in prematurely.
I believe our proper response to challenging situations is to ask GOD what our next steps out to be. The best of men/women is still a human being with limited wisdom.
I pray for the discernment to know when to pursue and when to relax for each of us, in Jesus' Name. Amen
Have a blessed and productive day.
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