Years ago, I was assigned to go assist our Cameroun office for a short time. As I was about to set out for Cameroun, it occurred to me that I did not have sufficient cash to buy a few gifts or souvenirs for myself and my loved ones. I pondered on this need, and expressed my desire to God to provide cash for me … in a miraculous way.
Miraculous way . . . ? That was what I said but, sincerely I had defined in my mind how I wanted God to ‘send’ me the cash, not necessarily ‘miraculous’. I imagined I was going to do an outstanding job for the guys in Cameroun and they would be so impressed that they would give me a parting cash gift. I’m sure a lot of us do this on several occasions in our prayers, we figure out how we want God to grant our desires – sometimes to the smallest detail. But God’s ways can be totally different from our imaginations, like he taught me on that trip.
I got to Cameroun and went to the baggage claim section. After every passenger had picked their bags, mine refused to show up. I complained to the airline staff and they gave me the sad news– my bag was missing! They said that a message had been sent across their entire network and, hopefully, they would find my bag soon. Bewildered, I went to the Cameroun office to report the situation, and that was when I started to get answers to the desire I had expressed to God.
First, the ‘big boss’ at the Cameroun office gave me some cash to get clothes and shoes for myself before I commenced the assignment. The next day, I got a call from the airline; they apologized, explained that my bag had been mistakenly packaged to another country and handed my bag to me. Something more – they gave me a cash compensation for the inconvenience. When I opened my bag, I thought to myself – “I did not really miss the bag, but I really wanted the money. Thank God”. And then everything seemed to be the ‘miraculous’ for me unlike my earlier imagination.
I remember grumbling when my bag didn’t show up. I mean “how could the bag of a man of the most high God be declared missing?” But God arranged that temporary disturbance to grant me my heart desire. Perhaps you are saying – “why am I still unmarried despite my service to God for years?” “Why should the ministry or business of a man of God not move with rocket speed from the first day?” “Why haven’t I gotten that dream job?” As long as you are serving God with honesty and dedication, rest assured that a pleasant surprise is coming your way soon. His ways will transcend your imagination. “God makes everything happen at the right time…” -Ecclesiastes 3:11 (CEV).
– Tope Aladenusi
