By Aniekeme Finbarr
I never believed one can be totally stranded till a Wednesday afternoon in 2012. I finished my radio programme at the Radio House, Abuja. I did not have a penny to get myself back home. No TP. Let me not talk about food and other things. I pulled all the strings, no way. All I needed was N200. I approached two strangers and they turned me down, the shame was unbearable. That thing I see people, I knew it could be real. You can be truly stranded.
I knew I had to trek home, it was past 1pm and the sun in Abuja can be mercilessly hot and I wore a suit. I trekked from Radio House down Garki Hospital, on Tafawa Balewa road past the Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Catholic zone to Area 3 Junction, still hoping for a miracle, still expecting that somehow, somewhere, help will come. No way, I then trekked to Area 1 shopping centre, I crossed over and continued on the entire road passing through Games Village to Galadimawa Junction, and from there to Lokogoma. Anietie Iyoho still doesn’t believe it till this day. About 15km under the scotching sun and it felt like nothing.
God cannot allow you to be stranded guys. Sometimes, you have tried everything within your power to solve the problem but it returns negative. You can use all your money, your contacts, your network, your strength, no way out.
Friends, I don’t know what you are going through, God has not failed you, if HE HAS NOT SAVED YOU FROM THE FIRE, HE IS WAITING FOR YOU IN THE FIRE, DON’T WAVER. The three Hebrew boys told Nebuchadnezzar “we will not bow, our God will deliver us, BUT EVEN IF HE DOES NOT, we die here”. They were thrown into the fire that was heated seven times and God said; “Guys, I had been here in the fire all the while waiting for you, let’s turn this place to a swimming pool”. Not even a scratch. Hahahahahahaha.
You can never be stranded. The King of the universe was shamed, stripped naked, beaten to death so that you will never see shame. The same God who opened his nostrils and oceans divided for millions of people to walk pass accepted to be hanged on a tree, helpless, thoroughly disgraced with his testicles dangling, people poking fun, taunting him, even the thief near him, said, “Save yourself here, no be you dey save other people?” That was the greatest shame and the price was fully paid so that you won’t see shame again.
That deadline, that school fee, that rent, that sickness, that job, that single status, that promotion hanging will not shame you. God is too faithful to fail you. You will never be stranded in Jesus name.
• Finbarr is a journalist, public speaker and aide to Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State.