“They
went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they
would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be
made manifest that they were not all of us” (1John 2:17).
Have you ever done something and then
wished that you had not? Maybe, let me ask the question another way...
Have you ever looked up a longtime
friend and then wished that you had not? Yes. I know that you understand! Well,
that happened to me recently.
When I begun the walk into fulltime
ministry, I was confused but determined to ‘do this’...that is after running
from GOD like Job did! Besides, GOD had made it quite clear that He was going
to close all other doors if I did not walk into this one and that was settled! In
other words, even though I would have considered to run some more, I would not
have had any doors to run into! Therefore, I chose the only and much better
option – to go with GOD’S plan for my life.
Now, when GOD walked in, He came with
a number of changes and one of them was a name change. Even though the name
change was very welcome to me, it was not that welcome to many. Some tried to
convince me to continue carrying my father’s name and to answer to my Muslim
first name that GOD had wisely replaced! They pushed and prodded as hard as
they could, giving me so many reasons that I honestly did not care about. The
woman that I contacted, recently, was one of them. Due to this, I was so
unhappy with her during that time of transition that I stopped all
communication with her and somehow lost her number over the years. For a while
there, I believed that I had been petty and that I should not have been angry
with her. I also believed that I should have stayed in touch with her by
visiting her office as I used to. Nonetheless, the memory of our last
conversation (years back) was enough to make me stay immobile where our
friendship was concerned. At that time, all that I had needed was support and
understanding but all that I had received from her was thinly veiled rebuttal
and accusations! Therefore, even though I would often think about her over the
years of her absence in my life, I was not motivated enough to look for her.
However, a few days back, I happened
to be on gardens that house her offices and I made it to her office. Not
finding her there, I requested for and received her telephone contact and got
in touch with her. I must say that she was worse than when I had left her! She
was so negative that only a few seconds into our conversation, I was wondering why
I had gotten in touch with her in the first place. Actually, I could not wait
to get off the phone by the time we ‘said our goodbyes’.
Finally, I knew. I got the revelation
that the season for our friendship ended long time ago! In fact, when GOD made
those changes, some people had to go so that I could carry my new name with others
who had not known me then. I also learned that not everyone will understand
your ‘GOD walk’, therefore, do not labor to explain it to them. Simply ignore
them, when in their presence, or move on from them as you take care of kingdom business.
It is more important for you to do what you have been called to do, the way you
have been called to do it including the changes that GOD has seen fit to bring
about into your life instead of trying to fit with people who do not understand
you anymore.
I also learned that she would probably
never change so I either had to keep away from her if I could or I had to
mature so much that nothing she would ever say would ever destabilize me again.
I chose to stay away.
I also admitted that I had been right
to let her go the first time round and very wrong to try to ‘reconnect’ with
her! Granted, we had needed each other several years back but that season is
over now. Of course, I will still love her but I will also be alert to the fact
that Christ changes things when He walks in and that I am one of the things
that He changed. You see, my former friend is still the same person - I was the
one who was changed! Therefore, I cannot expect her to change with me...that
would be selfish!
It is also important for us to be
wise enough to understand that, sometimes, GOD separates us from people because
they did not belong with us. If they had belonged with us, they would have
stayed with us but they went out from us! Therefore, they did not belong here!
Consequently, I urge you to be wise
enough to know that some people will not be the understanding friends that they
once were now that you are walking according to GOD’S plan for you. Accept it
and leave that door shut.
Prayer
Almighty GOD, I thank you for the
many friends that you gave me before I accepted your call on my life. However,
I now realize that that season of my life is over. Please give me the insight
to realize that before trying to reconnect with them. I thank you, LORD,
because you have done it. In Jesus’ name, I have prayed, amen.
