Checkmate Episode 21 (By Adeyoola Ojemola)

 

Theresa wakes up to the sound of a message drop on her phone. Picking up the phone to see what message it was she finds a text from Mummy Ojo.

 

 

Ecstatically, she opens it to read ‘Hey, girl. We got home just about two hours ago. Didn’t want to call since it was pretty late. Give me a call in the morning when you get this. I have missed you. Later’. 

 

 

Theresa was so full of joy that if not because Bisi Ojo had started to call in the morning, she would have called her right away. She got up to ease herself. Feeling a little thirsty after that, she walked out of her room to get a glass of water then she heard their argument. Theresa stopped in her tracks.

 

 

‘What do you mean there is nothing to talk about Daniella? Are we going to become rebellious children of God now? Do you think I am also excited about this? But have we not come this far with God to know that He seeks our obedience and faithfulness above all else?’ 

 

 

Daniella yanked the covers off her body and stood off the bed to face Joshua, ‘Excuse me, Mr. Child of God! I have no time discussing anything with you. If you won’t let me and my baby catch our sleep, I will excuse this room. 

 

 

What sort of nonsense are you spewing out of your mouth? It seems you are getting out of your mind. In case you have not heard, the God you say spoke to you has not spoken to me. As my God, He also has access to me and if what you claim He said is truly from Him, let Him come down from His throne and tell me the same!!!’

 

 

Joshua could not believe that Daniella uttered that out of her mouth ever so fiercely. With shock in his voice, ‘Daniella, did you really say that about God? He should come down from His throne to convince you to do His will? Daniella, you have spoken words that have crossed the line! 

 

You must ask Him for forgiveness!!!’

 

 

‘Sunday school teacher, God’s personal attorney, I have done no such thing as disrespect God. If I have, then you have also. You are the one lying and saying things God has not said. All of this mess is your entire fault. Don’t blame anything on me.

 

Why will you wake me up from my sleep to utter this rubbish, again!!! 

 

 

I still stand by what I have said, God did not say it, He can never say it and He will never say it! Good night. Seems I can’t get any sleep in here. I am going to my daughter’s room!’

 

 

Just as Theresa closed the room of her own door, Daniella flung theirs’s open angrily and slammed it shut. She was at first startled that the light in Theresa’s room was on and she was bothered for a moment if Theresa had heard their argument.

 

 

As quickly as it came, she dismissed the thought. She did not care one bit. She walked over to the door of the other room and remembered that there was no bed there. They had moved it to the guest room for Theresa. 

 

 

She contemplated going back to her bedroom but she just wasn’t ready for Joshua’s nonsense again. She headed to the living room and she lay there on the couch.

 

 

Trying to force sleep, it completely eluded her. Her anger towards Joshua kept brimming. She absolutely refused to let her mind drift to God. She refused to keep God in her mind!

 

 

Joshua also could not sleep. He could not pray. He knew that the devil is creating discouragement, division, and aiming for destruction in their marriage. He knew that the devil was trying to use God’s will against them. 

 

 

He also knew that this was a test for him and Daniella, a test from God. A test like that which Abraham received. In fact, too closely related to Abraham. Did Sarah also react like this when Abraham told her God’s will for the life of Isaac?

 

Or he did not tell her knowing she will be irrational as Daniella was right now?

 

What does God have in mind for Him to have presented this sort of cross before them. Is this the part of their life and marriage where they have to deny their own will which is to keep Baby-P, and take up the cross of giving her up, and following Jesus?

 

Isn’t this a cross too heavy to bear? 

 

I know, I know, 1 Corinthians 10:13. There will be no cross too heavy to bear that will come to me. If it comes to me, I can bear it.

 

Can’t you give us another cross to bear? He asked the Lord. 

 

Why am I remembering the story of King Saul? No Lord! I don’t want a testimony like his. He thought he could outsmart You. We can never outsmart You, Lord! 

 

You have to convince her yourself, Lord. 

 

 

She has stopped calling You, Daddy. She simply calls You God, now. 

 

I don’t know what to do to help her because I also need help myself.

 

Joshua realised that he was already praying and He knew God was listening. He knew that how he sincerely felt within him, he can’t fully express in words. He can’t seem to pray for Daniella too with an open heart because she had said hurtful things to him.

 

But he also understood God’s ways too. He sought God’s forgiveness on behalf of his wife and himself and that he had forgiven Daniella of her hurtful words and reactions to him. 

 

Then he prayed more for his family, with deep groanings and a heavy heart. He did not ask for the cup to pass. He simply asked that the Father’s will prevail. He did not ask that the cross be lighter but that they have grace to carry it.

 

Theresa tried to be as quiet as possible in her room. She was still stunned with what she heard from Joshua and Daniella. Honestly, she feels like she had just eavesdropped on their private discussion and that was absolutely wrong.

 

She had wanted to leave immediately but hearing the word rebellion from Joshua kept her rooted, listening to their various outbursts! ‘Oh!! I hope neither of them meant the aggression that transpired in their exchange of words’ Theresa lamented inwardly.

 

Theresa paced around the guest room, thinking, and strategizing on what she will say to them in the morning since she is now fully sure that there is indeed a strain of division in the home. 

 

Eventually, she surmised that all she can do for this couple who are beginning to mean so much to her is to pray for them, that God will not let them stray off His path and go against His will. 

 

There and then, she knelt and began to pray. She was not so bothered about making so much noise because the guest room is at the long end of the other rooms in the house. 

 

 

Theresa prayed with so much agony in her heart as though she was letting off a burden. She understood that as she prayed for Joshua and Daniella, their marriage, their unborn child, she was inviting God to step into their matter. 

 

Suddenly, Theresa just felt like her tongue was swapped as she found herself speaking words that she can’t explain with her spoken language. The baptism of the Holy Spirit has come to her with the evidence of speaking in tongues!

 

 

Theresa kept speaking, refusing to quickly dismiss the experience. It just feels so surreal. She did not feel possessed because she still had control of her senses. She paused speaking in tongues briefly to swallow her saliva and she continued. It felt like that fueled her further to speak deeper. 

 

She started off interceding for her brother and sister in Christ and just when she least expected the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, she was baptised with fire! Theresa wept hard that night. 

 

 

By the time she felt a relief in her spirit and could catch some sleep, it was already about 3:00 am in the morning. 

 

 

But to Theresa, it did not matter, she knows empowerment has come at a time it is most needed. Surely, the Lord has an assignment for her, hence, He empowered her. 

 

This brought her great joy, for she is God’s own handmaiden.

 

 

—————————–

Wheeeeew! 

What do you do when your will is in a serious battle against God’s will? Share your view in the comment section. It’s just a click away.

Need more Nigerian Christian stories like this? Click here for more.

You can also download Free Nigerian Christian Novels here.

Checkmate Episode 22