Growing up, I was a loner but I always wanted a friend, not just a friend but a sister, not just a sister, but someone who shared the same values and faith as I do.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my alone time, mostly because I'm not used to having someone to share my thoughts with.
Finding a friend was never a prayer that I prayed out loud but God heard me. It is true when the bible says "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalms 37:4). That is exactly what He did.
God never sends you into battle alone! I've proven that. When I thought I was helping someone with her struggles and her walk, it turns out she was helping me.
God knows that ministry is a tough walk. He knows that the people he places in positions that set them up for attacks, criticism and persecution, need support.
He knew that Elijah would need a friend on his journey and when Elijah was threatened and wanted to give up, God sent Elisha, knowing Elisha needed a mentor.
He knew that David would need a friend on his journey, so he sent Jonathan, knowing Jonathan himself needed a friend. And when Saul tried to kill David on numerous occasions, Jonathan stepped up.
When I was suffering from depression, I wanted to go see a therapist but they were too expensive, JMD$8,000 an hour...just wow! I had no one I could really express myself to when I was down. This was how I built intimacy with God but I later learnt that men are God's methods. We need God to survive this world but we need men and women to thrive in this world. When Israel needed rescuing God sent Moses, then Joshua, Othneil, David and many others. God will do nothing in this realm without a man.
This is why I do not think of Jesus as my therapist because you only go to a therapist when you are struggling but you go to a friend at any time, whether good or bad. It feels good talking to someone, not a therapist but a friend. Jesus knows that although He is the only friend we need, we also need each other.
This journey is definitely a faith walk. I got a call saying someone needed help and was crying profusely and that scared me, "what am I about to get myself into?". "Why would someone even think of suggesting me for this job in the first place, I am not experienced." I have been baptized now for under 3 years, I need help myself but I prayed and consulted God on the issue and He gave me peace going into the situation and it was nothing like I had imagined.
As I am writing this, I remember the day I got the call. That very same day I decided to go on a fast because I was struggling to interpret what God was saying to me for the past couple of days.
I had so many things on my mind and wanted to be intentional about my fast. I was not sure what the focus of my fast should be but then the Holy Spirit placed it heavily on my heart to fast concerning my business.
The night before, I told God that I am giving up on my business because I cannot be bothered anymore. "I cannot do business and ministry at the same time, I'm too exhausted". I told him explicitly that I want to do ministry only but I believe this was the first time I ever heard God telling me no in a situation like this. Imagine, I say I want to do the work of the Lord and do just that and God says no. I found it hard to even wrap my mind around it because it was later that day when the call came, that someone needed my help. This whole thing reminds me of 1 Kings 19 (read it when you can).
When I thought I may be dealing with someone who is insecure, abused and just wanted to vent and maybe request prayer from time to time, I got a woman of faith with strong beliefs; a wife, a mother and soon-to-be business owner. Our conversation was not what I was expecting. I was expecting something to burn me out and leave me exhausted, maybe even crying but I felt that the conversation may have touched me more than it did her. I came out feeling like I got the one thing that my life was missing...my Jonathan...my Elisha...now, my sister.
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