True Life Story – Episode Two
There are moments in life when God's will confronts our personal desires, exposing what is truly hidden in our hearts. Sometimes, the greatest battle is not against the devil but against our own pride, expectations, and emotions. This is the continuation of my true-life story—a journey that taught me one of the greatest lessons of my life.
GOD REALLY MEANS THIS BUSINESS
Continuation From Episode One..
I heard a resounding "Amen," almost seven times louder and more confident than mine.
"Matt... Matthew is here. That's his voice."
I turned back with great expectation and a wide smile, but no! Why, oh Lord? This guy again!
I charged at him in disgust.
"What do you want from me? Are you some kind of devilish person? Please, get thee behind me. Must you follow me about?"
I fell to the ground again in great disappointment.
God really meant this business!
As I struggled under the shock, a very confident, muscular hand rested on my shoulder.
Oh, how I loved muscular men! But who was it?
I turned and found Dave looking at me with pity. It was his hand.
"You are finding it difficult to do His will, right?" he asked almost childishly.
"Yes, I am. God isn't being fair. You are too inferior to me. Me? Marry you? It can't work," I replied with obvious hatred.
"I agree with you. Even I can't stoop so low as to marry someone like you," he answered calmly.
"What!" I exclaimed in disbelief.
My pride rose instantly. I became so angry that I trembled from head to toe.
I had never felt so embarrassed in my life. This lame guy was talking to me as if we were equals. No way! This couldn't be God's will. It had to be my imagination.
I tried to stand up, but I realized his hand was still resting on my shoulder. As I looked closely, I noticed he had difficulty bending because of his condition.
Forgetting my salvation for the moment, I angrily threw his hand off my shoulder. He lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground.
A painful cry escaped his lips, but I walked away as though nothing had happened.
He stretched out his hand, hoping I would help him up, but my heart had become so hardened that I ignored him completely.
As I walked out of the church, I turned back once more. He looked at me with his mouth slightly open while tears slowly streamed down his face.
At that moment, my sanity began to return.
I shuddered.
"God... what have I done? What is happening to me?"
Question after question flooded my mind.
I couldn't believe my own behavior. I had never been the type to intentionally hurt anyone, especially someone living with a disability. I had always been careful around people like Dave. Why had I acted so differently today?
Without wasting another second, I quickly dialed Bro. John's number. He was a friend who lived nearby.
He arrived almost immediately and rushed Dave to the hospital.
As Dave leaned painfully on Bro. John's shoulder, he looked back at me with an expression that seemed to say, "You could actually do this to me?"
Was it really my fault?
I only reacted because I was irritated by what he said.
Besides... wasn't what God was asking me to do a very difficult thing?
Whose fault was it, really?
What had suddenly come over me?
Those questions refused to leave my mind.
That night, as I lay on my bed, every scene replayed vividly before my eyes. Tears filled my eyes, and I knelt beside my bed to pray.
"Lord, I am sorry. Please forgive me. I don't want to live with this regret."
The room remained silent.
God said nothing.
That silence broke my heart more than words ever could.
Then my phone rang.
"Oh no! That must be from the hospital," I whispered as I reached for my phone.
"My God... what have I done?"
It was Matthew.
I hissed.
WHEN EVERYTHING BEGAN TO CHANGE
Me: Hello.
Matthew: There hasn't been any call from you since morning.
Me (irritated): If I didn't call, couldn't you?
Matthew: Gosh! Lizzy, do you realize it's me?
Me (angrily): Who are you, by the way?
Matthew: Wow!
Realizing I had spoken out of anger, I quickly came back to my senses.
Me: Matthew, I'm not in a good mood. When I am, I'll give you a call.
Matthew: Nice one! Nawa o! Hehehehe... Lizzy! Wonders shall never end.
He cut the call.
I threw my phone on the bed, then picked it up again.
Without wasting time, I dialed Bro. John's number.
Me: Bro. John, thank you for helping the other time.
Bro. John: No problem. He's in the hospital now. He has been admitted.
Me: Jesus! Is it that serious?
Bro. John: No. They placed him on some strong painkillers and are observing him. He'll be fine.
Me: I hope he isn't angry with me.
Bro. John: He woke up a few minutes ago, and the first person he asked about was you.
Me: He did? Does he want me to come? Are ladies allowed to enter?
Bro. John: Sure. But it's already late. You should probably come tomorrow morning.
"Okay," I replied.
I became so happy.
It felt as though cold water had been poured over the burning guilt in my heart.
He wasn't angry with me.
He actually wanted to see me.
Then I suddenly stopped.
"Wait! What's wrong with you, Liz? Something isn't normal. Why are you this happy? Better call Matthew now."
"That's true," I said to myself.
I called him almost ten times, but he didn't answer.
That had never happened before.
We had never quarreled, and he always picked my calls.
A few moments later, my phone beeped.
It was a message from Matthew.
"For all these years that we have been together, I trusted you. But Liz, if you can't submit to me, then what's the point of this relationship? I guess we've only been infatuated with each other. I know I love you, but I'm no longer comfortable with us anymore. Let's end it."
I didn't cry.
Instead, I heaved a deep sigh, the kind that comes when a movie finally reaches its conclusion.
God was at work.
That night, I slept peacefully.
In my dream, I returned the ring to Matthew over a meal. We both laughed together, and then he introduced another lady to me.
"Let's see if something good comes out of the two of us. This is Rita."
She was so beautiful.
I was genuinely happy for him.
When I woke up, I still had a smile on my face.
Then I knelt down and cried.
I had never loved anyone the way I loved Matthew.
We had planned our future together.
We even had a notebook where we wrote down our dreams and the names of our future children.
He wanted only two children.
I wanted eight.
I cried until six o'clock in the morning.
When it was time for my devotion, I was emotionally exhausted.
But as I prayed, God strengthened me from within.
By 10 a.m., I gathered enough courage and went to the hospital to see Dave.
As I entered the ward, I whispered a short prayer.
I looked up and saw him.
Bro. David looked at me and smiled broadly.
His white, neatly arranged teeth caught my attention.
Without realizing it, I smiled back...
Faintly.
GOD'S PLAN WAS SLOWLY UNFOLDING
Me: Can I call you Dave?
That was the very first question that came out of my mouth.
He looked slightly confused.
Me: Except... we don't have to be friends.
He smiled again.
Awwwn... such a beautiful smile!
"The devil is a liar," he replied jokingly. "Call me Dave. That's my name."
We both laughed and began talking.
As we chatted, I gently rubbed his knees and told him I had once been in a similar situation. He appreciated the gesture and gradually became more relaxed.
He then shared the heartbreaking story of his accident—how it claimed the lives of both his parents shortly after they returned from a vacation in Dubai.
Listening to him broke my heart.
By the time we were leaving the hospital, we had become much more comfortable around each other.
He went home, and I returned to mine.
Before we parted ways, we exchanged our phone numbers.
As I was about to climb into bed that evening, my phone beeped.
I rushed to pick it up.
It was a message from Dave.
"If this is what an illness could do for someone, then I should probably start falling sick regularly. It was fun talking with you today. Tell me when to call so we can pray together before we sleep. Grateful heart."
I couldn't help but smile.
I hugged my phone tightly.
"I will do God's will, come what may," I whispered to myself.
I immediately began typing a reply.
"I am the happiest person tonight too. You made my day. If illness wouldn't cause you pain, I would even ask for you to be sick again just so we could spend more time together. But I don't want you to suffer at all. You can call me now. I am available. I care..."
I suddenly stopped.
"Gosh! What am I doing?"
"Isn't this becoming too outrageous?"
I quickly deleted the entire message.
Then I typed another one.
"Really, no problem, Dave. God bless you. Call anytime."
I smiled as I pressed the send button.
TEN YEARS LATER...
It was a beautiful day at the Jogor Centre, Ibadan, where our family and friends had gathered to celebrate ten years of God's faithfulness in our marriage.
As everyone listened attentively, I recounted the amazing story of how everything began.
The hall erupted with laughter as I narrated how I had once resisted God's will so fiercely.
Even after all these years, Dave still teases me whenever he remembers that incident.
Three days after Christmas in 2005, I became Mrs. Dave.
We got married at one of the ancient-looking yet treasured halls in the United Kingdom—John Hopkins Tourist Centre.
Looking back, I could only marvel at God's wisdom.
The same man I once rejected became the man God had prepared for me all along.
I got married to Dave with my hymen intact... hope you get that?
So, while I stood in the church that day, I was sweating inside a fully air-conditioned hall despite the cold winter season.
No one understood why.
To be continued...
Watch Out for the Next LAST CONCLUDED PART
CONCLUSION
One of the greatest mistakes we can make is allowing pride, appearance, social status, or personal preferences to become louder than God's voice.
God often works in ways we never expect. The person we overlook today may be the very blessing God has prepared for us.
When we surrender our own plans and trust His wisdom, we discover that His purpose is always better than our imagination.
Although obedience may require sacrifice, it never ends in regret.
A MOMENT OF REFLECTION
- Have you ever dismissed someone because they didn't meet your expectations?
- Are you asking God for direction while secretly hoping He agrees with your own plans?
Remember, God's choices are based on eternal purpose, not outward appearance. Before rejecting what seems unlikely, take time to pray sincerely. The blessing you've been asking for may arrive in a package you never expected.
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. — Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What lesson does this true-life story teach?The story teaches that judging people by outward appearance can cause us to miss God's perfect plan. True character and God's guidance matter far more than physical appearance or social statues.
- Why is obedience to God's will important in relationships? Obeying God's direction brings peace, purpose, and lasting joy. While His plans may not always match our expectations, they are always for our good (Romans 8:28)
- What Bible verse teaches us not to judge by appearance?
One of the clearest verses is 1 Samuel 16:7, where God says that people look at outward appearance, but He looks at the heart.
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