ENCOURAGE YOURSELF

Many times, we are in the situation where there will be no encouragement from any corner, those you look up to for strength will fail you in an unimaginable way, then this is the time for you to brace up and encourage yourself like David did in this passage.
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters:  but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.  (1 Samuel 30:6 KJV)
I’ve been in some terrible situation in life such that I have no one to turn to than look up to God and encourage myself. You would have read or heard about the story of a woman in the bible who was a widow, and debtors came to take away her two sons. Hmm, this is the exact situation my family was some few years ago.
From 2016 till date, there has been a turnaround that is never for good in my immediate family. Dad was late, mum a widow and she was indebted to some microfinance banks and as a result of the fact that she was unable to pay them, came took away my brother who was at home, create a scene that to some is a scene of mockery, to some of sympathy and to some empathy. I was on campus when I received the call from a concern neighbor, I had to leave everything I was doing in the fellowship environment and rush to the car park to take the next available bus to town as if I had the money to pay it off.
The shame of walking in the neighborhood grips me that I had to wait till evening before I can come to our street and our home.
The relegating words from the staff of this microfinance banks to me were actually not a concern to me but the fact my mum was lock up in a toilet and my brother was captured like a slave brings uncontrolled tears from my eyes. I wept not just for that moment but even till now that I’m typing this. I had to assure them that I will look for the cash or some cash to at least release them to me. I ran to one of the places I tutor students preparing for JAMB and WAEC external exams if the man can actually help me with some cash which I will subsequently work for it that week. The man was so kind to have offered me that help, he handed over a sum of #8,000 instead of the expected amount #5000 for the periods I will take that week (I took geography and agricultural science in the tutorial center geography two periods and Agric. Science for three period per week. We were paid #1000 per period).
I was so happy and dash back to the microfinance office to hand over the cash to them and to release them to me. The condition of the release was that I have to be paying #10,000 per month for six to seven months thereabout till we pay off the loan. We have no choice than to agree to the terms.
During this period, I have no one to talk to, I became a laughing stock among my peers and even some family members were so callous to us then it only take the grace of God for me to have forgiven them and be relating to them normally today, but those times, I can’t forget.
Like David, I was devastated but I have my mum to cheer up, she must not have a rise in BP, she must live long to reap the fruits of all these her hard labor, I had to man up, and carry my cross. I encouraged myself. The semester examination is equally around the corner, I have to face my study too, I encouraged myself. Many times I will have to lie to my mum that I’ve eaten and fake laughter just for her to eat and smile, I knew what hardship is, but I encouraged myself. I look at the future with the hope of glory in Christ Jesus, many times God will show me the future and where he has ordained for me to be.
I am writing this to encourage someone out there, never lose hope, the future is brighter than you think, actually, I’m not a rich man yet, but we are far better off than where we are in those trying times, though we are yet to gain balance financially. But we now have those memories as testimony that you are reading now.
When there seems to be no one, encourage yourself. Be there for yourself, you need yourself more than others need you.

From your brother,
ORIDO, Joel .O.
(Extract from my book THE MEMOIR)