Formalities and Appearances…

My conversations with people I meet sometimes go like this…

EITHER
Person: Heyyyyyyy!

Me: Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii…!
This is then followed by something that is supposed to be a hug but is really not. It is simply a pathetic shoulder rubbing of some sort you give to people that you’re not sure whether to give a hug or just a handshake. 
Person: So, how are you? How have you been? How’s everything? 

Me: I am okay, I am fine. I have been good. Everything is okay. 

Person: Eeh! It’s been long! Where do you be hiding? 

Me: Waaah! I don’t be hiding… I am so around. 

Suddenly the excitement mood is gone and the tone is changed. 
Person: I am so stressed! Nothing seems to be working out for me

Me: You shouldn’t worry, things will work out. Just give everything to God. He has a way of working things out. 

Person: Hmmm… Okay. See you around! 

Me: See u! 

OR
Person (very enthusiastically): Oh Praise the Lord woman of God! 

Me (even more enthusiastically): Praise Him! Surely Praise Him! 

Person: I saw you walking and I just saw glory! 

Me: Amen! Amen! Amen! 

Person: So tell me, how is your glorious self? 

Me: Hehe… I am glorious as you say. I am excellent and wonderful! 

Person: Which dimension of the Spirit have you been? I haven’t been seeing you around  lately. 

Me: I must have been in the 7th dimension… Caught up in a trance somewhere! 

Person: What is the Lord saying? I saw you and I just knew I had to get a Word from you! 
My brain does a quick run around while I silently pray, “Dear Lord, what are you saying?” I take a quick look at the person and there’s “expectation of a Word from the Lord” inscribed allover his/her face. There’s no getting out of this, and so I settle for the safest option: the scriptures. 
Me: Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Well, well… This is a season to shine! 

Person: Glory to God! Amen! Thank you so much woman of God. 

Me: Amen! Amen! 
I quickly find a way of saying my good-byes and see-you-soons and then find the fastest way to my room. One look in the mirror is enough to prove to me that clearly, the girl I see in the mirror is not the girl that has just been outside spewing mysteries and revelations and telling every one that all is well. This version of me is not so sure of tomorrow; fact is I am not even so sure of today. I am surrounded by all kinds of trouble and fears; both those that are real and those that my mind has made up. I am a girl drowning in fear,heartache and confusion…but this isn’t the worst part of it: the worst part is everyone else thinks I am on the side of life where its only roses and no thorns. 

By now, you’re probably wondering, “Is this girl really born again?” The answer is YES. I am Born Again and considering all the knowledge I have of the scriptures, I ought not to be feeling or thinking this way. I should be thinking success, joy, victory and everything good, but am not. Instead, because of all that I know, I am consumed by guilt for feeling like am failing, like everything is out of control. I am ashamed of being so weak and immature!
The truth is there are many like me who silently break and crumble on the inside while they paint a pretty picture of themselves on the outside. Some call it strength; but strength is not in putting up a brave front when everyone is watching. No. Strength is standing up to your problems even when there’s not a single soul watching. Some say it is faith; that they’re calling those things that are not as though they are. But many in fact are just calling those things that are, as though they were not!

For the person that may be beating yourself up because you feel like a weakling, for that person that is putting on a show on the outside because you feel that is what is expected of you, for that person that feels overwhelmed by the situations around you… This is just to remind you that there’s nothing shameful about your situation. When you got Born again, you became a child of God and it doesn’t matter the circumstances, you will always be His. He has declared His eternal, relentless and unwavering love for you! Stop running from your issues, stop wishing them away, stop hiding them behind fake smiles, heavy make up and bright clothes. Instead, face them. Yes, stand up to those things that seek to break you with the knowledge that you are His. Through the anger, frustration, disappointments; through it all, He is your Father and He will never leave nor forsake you!
And for you that has risen above such circumstances, look not down on those that may still be in this fight. Instead love them…love them fiercely! Refuse to let them suffer in silence. In their times of darkness, be the light that the Lord has called you to be.

Greater than any revelation we may have, greater than any sermon we may preach, greater than all the tongues we may speak is the simple thing called LOVE!