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When disappointment turns blessings – Part 1

By Gabriel Osu
03 July 2016   |   2:14 am
James, an unemployed graduate, was desperate to get to his destination. He was scheduled to attend a job interview at a multi-national firm located somewhere at Ikoyi.

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James, an unemployed graduate, was desperate to get to his destination. He was scheduled to attend a job interview at a multi-national firm located somewhere at Ikoyi. He had left his home at Abule Egba as early as 6am, hoping to arrive venue of the interview before 9am, which was the time indicated in his letter. At Ikeja, where he had stopped to board another bus going to Obalende, a serious disagreement ensued between him and another passenger, a broad shouldered man, on who should occupy the last seat available in the bus. James insisted on occupying the seat since he was almost late for his appointment. The other disagreed.

The two poised for a showdown. Finally, a dejected James was prevailed upon by onlookers to allow the other occupy the last seat while he wait for another. Thirty minutes later, James, now in another bus, cruised through third Mainland Bridge only to find a group of motorists and sympathisers gathered at a section of the bridge. A brief enquiry revealed that a danfo bus en-route Obalende from Ikeja had plunged into the lagoon, killing the driver and all the passengers in it. It was the same bus that James had earlier intended to board.

Many times, we feel disappointed or dejected over some experiences of life. When we pray so hard over a particular challenge and it appears we are not getting the required answer, we tend to get agitated and conclude that God has rejected us. But have we taken time to understand the underlining factor behind those seeming unanswered prayers? Has it ever occurred to us that the ‘delay’ by God to answer our prayers may actually be for our own good? Check the story of James above. He was sad because he could not occupy that last seat, not knowing that it would have been a direct passport to his grave.

Perhaps you are a spinster longing for a good husband. You suddenly come across a dashing young man, who sweeps you off your feet. Excited, you rush to your parents and other family members to announce that you have found Mr. Right at last. To your disappointment, they all objected to the planned union. Blinded by love, you refused to see reason with them.

However, just before the wedding date is fixed, you are advised to embark on some period of retreat, coupled with prayer and fasting. And interestingly, God allows you to have a peep into the true lifestyle and character of your proposed husband. You are shocked to realise that he is a fraudster and had been married severally.

To be continued
Very Rev. Msgr. Osu, Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

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