Judith Kambia Obatusa (JKO) opens up about a recent test of her faith. Exploring the depths of personal pain and loss, JKO shares the raw and authentic journey of how activating the shield of faith isn't a one-time event but a continual process in navigating life's storms.
References in this episode
Jonathan Traylor - You Get The Glory
Join the Messy Can't Stop Her Sisterhood at https://www.facebook.com/groups/3204395256540448/
If you would love to share your story on the #MessyCantStopHer podcast, click here to let me know.
Thank you so much for listening.
Music Credit: https://indiefy.me/wanted-carter
Judith Kambia Obatusa (JKO) opens up about a recent test of her faith. Exploring the depths of personal pain and loss, JKO shares the raw and authentic journey of how activating the shield of faith isn't a one-time event but a continual process in navigating life's storms.
References in this episode
Jonathan Traylor - You Get The Glory
Join the Messy Can't Stop Her Sisterhood at https://www.facebook.com/groups/3204395256540448/
If you would love to share your story on the #MessyCantStopHer podcast, click here to let me know.
Thank you so much for listening.
Music Credit: https://indiefy.me/wanted-carter
To actually get the best from the Bible when we talk about reading the Bible, you have to be able to be present. I could not be present because I was in my sadness, in my heartache. And I could not find a song that was relevant to my situation.
[00:07:00]
I found myself saying, "Lord, there must be something in this for me to use to add value to others." The shield of faith isn't just about self-preservation; it's about finding purpose in the pain. I couldn't read my Bible or pray conventionally, but my plea for a lifeline turned into a song that anchored me.
[00:08:00]
This journey of faith isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. It requires consistency and stability. I recalled Romans 8:28, All things work together for good, for those who love God and who are called according to his purpose, a scripture that had been my rock in challenging times over the years. Yet, I needed more. That scripture was not enough at that time.
Activating the shield of faith is an ongoing journey, a daily practice. It is not something that you just do once and, Oh, I've activated it so it's going to work forever. It is a commitment to keep tuning in to God's voice.
[00:09:00]
So I said, Lord I need something that tells me that this is for your glory. I remembered the line to a particular song which I could not remember, so I went to the internet to look for that song and another song came up. The title of that song is you get the glory. It was a song by Jonathan Traylor, who I had never heard about before that day. And I want to just tell you or sing the song to you. Listen to the lyrics, because it is amazing. And how timely those words were, and those words have continued to encourage me since then.
This is so heavy and it's bringing me to my knees. And I'm crying out, Lord I need you now, to come and see about me.
Don't know why this life is so hard,
and why do you seem so far. But if this cup won't pass, help me to stay steadfast. Let your will be done,
you get the glory from this.
You get the glory from this. No matter what I have to go through in this world, as long as you get the glory from it.
You get the glory from this.
You get the glory from this. No matter what I have to go through in this world, As long as you get the glory from it.
And this is my cross to bear, This is my story to tell. That no matter what I've gone through, I've been tried and came out true. So let your will be done.
You get the glory from this.
You get the glory from this. No matter what I have to go through in this world, As long as you get the glory from it,
You get the glory from this, You get the glory from this.
No matter what I have to go through in this world, As long as you get the glory from it. Tribulation.
Persecution, my affliction. You get the glory from it. In my weakness, in my brokenness, in the crushing. You get the glory from this. On the mountaintop, in the valley low. You are in control. You get the glory from this. On my good days, on my bad days, I will still say, You get the glory from this.
You get the glory from this.
Please get the glory from this. No matter what I have to go through in this world, as long as you get the glory from it.
"You Get the Glory" by Jonathan Traylor became my anthem. Its lyrics resonated with my pain and became a source of strength. Despite the finality of my daughter's death, this song reminded me that God can still get the glory from our deepest sorrows.
As I navigated through my grief, the lyrics of "You Get the Glory" became a declaration. Even in tribulation, persecution, and affliction, God can still get the glory. My pain became a platform for God's glory, and I clung to scriptures that spoke of rejoicing in the midst of trials.
[00:10:00]
By the time God showed me this song on Google, I was at the point in my tears where I said, you know what, God, I have no alternative to you. Where am I going to go now?
You are the one I have relied on, I have prayed to, I have believed in. And so I remembered Habakkuk 3:17-18 that says, Even if the fig tree does not blossom, and the labor of the olive might fail, Yet, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. I also remembered the story in Daniel 3:8-25 about the three Hebrew teenagers who King Nebuchadnezzar threw into the furnace of fire because they refused to bow down and worship the statue that he built and commanded everybody in Babylon to bow to.
The 3 youth told the king that they will not bow to the statue and that the God they serve is able to deliver them. They also said that even if their God does not deliver them, they will still not bow to the statue.
The king was so angry that he asked his men to heat the furnace 7 times hotter and throw the boys in there. The men who did that job were killed by the flames but instead of the boys getting burnt, the king saw the boys walking around in the fire with a 4th person who he said looked like a son of the gods. He then asked them to come out of the fire because their God had saved them.
The journey of faith is not a guarantee against challenges but a promise that God gets the glory from our struggles. It is about choosing the path of faith, even when life's challenges seem insurmountable. My walk with Jesus has been my anchor, saving me from a reckless life.
Activating the shield of faith is about a relationship. Truly, truly, truly, without the relationship I have with Jesus, there is just no way I could have survived the challenges my life has encountered.
Prior to the time I gave my life to Christ, I even tried to kill myself. Twice. Because when things got overwhelming, all I wanted to do was, not be here. When I gave my life to Christ, that was no longer an option. Taking my own life was no longer an option because according to the Bible, there is another side of living that is not on this earth, and that one is eternal, an unending timeline.
[00:11:00]
Activating the shield of faith is also about making a choice. And many people have chosen Jesus like me, but when times got hard, they met people who gave them options of what they could do that were outside God's word.
I have gotten such options since my daughter died. Yes I have faced options that seemed couched in faith but weren't aligned with God's Word. The shield of faith isn't just about prayers; it is about holding onto God's promises and remaining stable in our faith. The Bible says that an unstable man cannot receive anything from God.
Activating the shield of faith is an ongoing journey, a daily commitment to God's Word.
[00:12:00]
Today, I share my story to encourage you. You are not alone in your struggles. There are others, holding on to their faith just like me. There are many others who believe like me, who believe this God with me, who hold up the shield of faith when life throws those curves at us.
If you're facing difficulties, reach out for help. The shield of faith isn't a one-time activation; it is a continuous practice.
[00:13:00]
As I wrap up, I want to say a prayer for you, that is listening. I don't know what you're going through right now. I don't know how difficult the situation is, that problem that seems unending. You may be in a situation where those who promised to love you are the ones hurting you the most, or it may be your job, things are hard and it seems there is no hope. I pray for you today in the name of Jesus Christ, that our God, who is rich in mercy, will meet you at the point of your need. I pray that He will send you help, whether through a message, a person you know, or someone unexpected. God will help you in Jesus name. I pray that you will experience a manifestation of his love, physically. And I pray that you will have a testimony in Jesus mighty name, Amen.
[00:14:00]
Remember, the shield of faith is an ongoing journey. It is not a one and done event. If you find yourself in the midst of fear or life's storms, when life throws you curveballs, when your mind wants to take you on a journey of pain, and you remember to activate that shield, Messy won't stop you.
Thank you so much for listening. See you next time.
[00:15:00]