"HOW EXPERIENCE BECAME MY TEACHER."

Singing has been one of my greatest passions since childhood, but I made a costly mistake. I probably wouldn't have made such mistake if I was properly guided and well informed about the right way of doing things. As a young girl growing in the church, I was very vibrant in the church and in the choir. No doubt I have an amazing voice, my Pastors, Music Directors would easily fall in love with me and give me the platform to sing and I loved it. Well, I was just doing me not knowing that doing me had accenctuated strife and envy in some people who were close to me and I thought had the same mindset with me.

Long story short, I had a first hand taste of been envied & hated for following passion & purpose. And that was it, poor & naive me. I said to myself, if the church is like this, if the church is full of gossipers and haters, then I'll just pass. I will be by myself because I don't want trouble. At the time, I had just gained admission into the University. I carried my baggage of disappointment about what I expected the church to be into the University, thus making the wrong decision of not joining the choir because I didn't want anyone's trouble. All through my 4 years in the University I completely stayed away from the choir, and from anyone who could have helped me grow in my passion & purpose. I believed I was staying out of trouble, not knowing that "No one grows in isolation".

Well, I joined a dance group in my fellowship then, because I didn't want to be totally useless, I knew I had to serve God. You ask, why dance? Dancing is another I love to do on a low key. But that really was not where God would have me be at the time. Every time the choir mounted the stage to minister, my conscience would tell me, "Teju you know you should be a part of them..." Yet, I ignored my conscience and the Holy Spirit for 4 years thinking it was best for me to stay out of trouble. Overtime, I have come to observe that wherever I find myself, no matter how much I try to hide, the spotlight would shine on me and I was convinced that, this light would also attract haters, jealous, & envious people. Because of this I believed my isolation zone was a safe place to hide. But didn't the scripture say "You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden?"

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden"

Finally, my eyes of understanding was flooded with light in my final year when I encountered God. I learnt that I didn't have to put my dreams, passion on hold because of anyone. I learnt that my focus ought to be God and that which He has placed in my hand not anyone. Even Jesus wasn't liked by everyone, yet that didn't stop Him from doing the Father's Business. Back to my story, since I was in my final year it was too late to join the choir now, because I would have to go through some training as required by my fellowship. If I chose to go for the training, by the time I'm done, I still would not be able to join the choir.

You don't have to put your dreams and passion on hold because of anyone. Your focus ought to be God and that which He has placed in your hand not anyone.

Henceforth, I determined that never again would I allow anything or anyone stop me from chasing my passion & purpose. I decided to give God my service year and every living moment. Missing it again is not an option. Let me mention here that, there were times when I feel sad, pained, & angry at myself because of the 4 years I wasted. The thought of how musically & spiritually inclined I could have become, gave me a lot of heartache. But God has helped me to forgive myself, move on from my mistake and make the best out of now for the sake of my future. Oh, how grateful I am to God for my service year and the people He brought my way. Today, I press towards the mark of the high calling, I'm pressing on to achieve my purpose, no more looking back.

God has helped me to forgive myself, move on from my mistake and make the best out of now for the sake of my future. Today, I press towards the mark of the high calling, I'm pressing on to achieve my purpose, no more looking back.

📝MORAL OF MY EXPERIENCE:

• YOUR FOCUS SHOULD BE GOD, YOUR DREAM & PURPOSE. NEVER PUT YOUR PURPOSE ON HOLD BECAUSE OF WHAT PEOPLE WILL THINK OR SAY. IN THE END GOD WOULD NOT ASK THEM, HE WOULD ASK YOU.

• IF YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING ELSE ASIDE FROM WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE YOU DO, OR WHERE HE WOULD HAVE YOU BE, YOU ARE ON THE WRONG LANE, & YOU CANNOT BEAR FRUIT. GET ON THE SAME LANE WITH GOD TODAY SO YOU CAN BEAR FRUIT & FLOURISH.

• UNTIL YOU LET GO OF YOUR PAST, PAIN, DISAPPOINTMENT... YOU WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THE MORE GOD HAS IN STORE FOR YOU.

• GROWTH DOES NOT TAKE PLACE IN ISOLATION. ASSOCIATE YOURSELF WITH GROUPS & PEOPLE WHO WOULD HELP YOU DEVELOP.

• THERE'S NO BETTER TIME TO LAUNCH OUT ON YOUR PURPOSE THAN NOW!

📝Be Inspired to live a transformed life...

Your's in Truth

Tejumade