Checkmate Episode 28 (By Adeyoola Ojemola)

 

 

Daniella wept hard in the restroom. After she thought she was calm, she stepped out and within a few steps, she met Bisi Ojo, leaning on the wall and looking at her face with so much concern and gentleness. 

 

‘Dear, are you alright? You don’t seem so nor do you look so. Will you like to share?’ Bisi’s voice carried a heavy weight of concern that Daniella could not refute her.

 

Read previous episode on  Theresa, Daniella, and Bisi Ojo here.

 

At Bisi’s gentle touch on her face, she began to cry again. This time, her head was on Bisi’s shoulder, pulled into a warm embrace and experiencing a gentle tap of warm fingers on her back. When her wailing subsided, Bisi led her to a couch in the living room. 

 

 

Bisi called for Theresa to bring a glass of cool water for Daniella who had started to hiccup. Theresa also walked in with the water looking so worried. She could only say a quick prayer in her heart to the Lord that God will take control of Daniella. 

 

Daniella drank all the water in the glass and requested for some more. Theresa went and returned with a glass jug and refilled her cup. The pregnant woman finished it all up. Theresa turned to excuse both of them but Daniella stopped her and asked that she wait and listen to her. Theresa quietly took the nearest chair.

 

Daniella looked at the both of them and there’s already tears swelling up in her eyes. ‘Can God make an unreasonable request?’

 

Her question startled Theresa but Bisi seemed unmoved at such an outburst.

 

Calmly, ‘Why do you say so?’ Bisi asked.

 

‘I know I have not known you both long enough but I believe that you are my sisters in Christ. But I need to let off this heavy steam on my chest. I feel like I am getting out of breath the more I hold it in. 

 

Mummy Ojo, I love the Lord, so dearly. Since I gave my whole heart to Him for many years now, I can tell you to the best of my judgment that I have always sought to honour Christ as my Master. I always long to be like that servant who invested the talents he was given and earned ten folds as returns for his master.

 

I have faithfully sought God’s mind every day of my life and there’s been nothing I can’t give up for the Lord. To give you an example. Before I got married, I was working with an international law firm based in the US. I used to travel a lot and I was a fast rising lawyer in that firm. When I travel, I don’t travel anything short of business class. 

 

My husband, Joshua, then my fiancé was to come over to join me when my relocation to the head office clicked. We had already agreed that he would come over and six months later we would wed. 

 

Then three weeks to his coming, he said he perceives God doesn’t want us starting our marriage there but to remain in Nigeria. That meant I’d leave my job entirely because we are not to stay where the branch office was. I didn’t argue with him. I simply asked for time to pray about it. 

 

God assured me it was His will. I asked him to let me tidy up the cases on my desk and within five months, I could tender my resignation. A month later I was home and we got married. 

 

After our marriage, the head office asked that I could work for them as a consultant. The pay was attractive and the benefits were superb. We prayed about it and God told me not to. I gave it up.

 

The company I work for now cannot hold a candle to the previous organisation but God confirmed that was where he’d like me to work. 

 

I am very big on saying to the Lord be it unto me as You will or should I say I used to…’ Daniella began to sob again.

Bisi handed her a box of tissue that was close by. After regaining composure, Daniella continued her story.

 

‘Recently, God has made a demand from me and this time, I don’t think I can! This time, I think He is just being unreasonable!’ At this statement, Daniella’s face grew hardened, she was up on her feet as though ready to wag a finger at God if He were physically there before her. 

 

Bisi and Theresa said nothing. They simply listened, and watched her. 

 

All three of them stayed quiet, each to her own thoughts. Yet, Bisi was fervently praying that the Holy Spirit will take control and have His way. Theresa was simply saying the same thing repeatedly in her own heart. No one said anything until suddenly…

 

The atmosphere seemed to change as though a heavy Presence entered, indescribable with words. Daniella suddenly let out a cry and fell on her knees, hands to her chest, wailing. 

Bisi started to get up but felt the Presence’s weight upon her. Then she spoke,

‘Am I unreasonable, Daughter? Can I not make clay into what I please? Didn’t you give Me your word that I can do with you as I please? You want to take it back? 

Is My way not perfect? Are My promises no longer true? Do I not shield those who take refuge in Me? Who is except Me? Who is Rock but Me? 

Who makes man great but Me? Who trains and equips for battle like I do?

Who makes perfect ways like Me? Who keeps your feet from slipping but Me?’

 

At the end of Bisi’s voice, Daniella could not kneel anymore. She was curled up on her side on the floor, hands on her head, wailing. She went on like that for the next thirty minutes. 

 

Bisi and Theresa were also prostrate on the floor. Theresa was speaking in tongues, Bisi was pleading one word, mercy!

 

Soon Daniella was singing a song, a hymn:

 

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
his holy will abideth;
I will be still, whate’er he doth,
and follow where he guideth.
He is my God; though dark my road,
he holds me that I shall not fall:
wherefore to him I leave it all.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
he never will deceive me;
he leads me by the proper path;
I know he will not leave me.
I take, content, what he hath sent;
his hand can turn my griefs away,
and patiently I wait his day.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
though now this cup, in drinking,
may bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it, all unshrinking.
My God is true; each morn anew
sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
and pain and sorrow shall depart.

Whate’er my God ordains is right:
here shall my stand be taken;
though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
yet am I not forsaken.
My Father’s care is round me there;
he holds me that I shall not fall:
and so to him I leave it all.

 

As she sang all four verses off hand, Bisi saw Daniella’s heart. She has not lost her love for God, nor her desire to do His will. Her flesh had only gotten in the way and she let it.  Bisi made a mental note to look for the hymn Daniella sang so she also could know it by heart. 

 

Theresa, also quiet as Daniella sang, kept thinking what was the cross this woman had to bear that God chose to speak directly to her? Theresa did not doubt that God’s Presence had visited them that moment and she still feels the weight of His presence as of now. 

 

At this time, it was already pretty late in the afternoon. Yet, none of them felt any hurriedness. Bisi sat up first right there on the living room floor, then Theresa, then Daniella who had burst into tongues after singing her hymn. 

 

Daniella spoke first. 

‘I’d tell you what this is about…’ She gave a long sign. 

 

‘God wants me to give up my baby… The instruction came to us through Joshua and he has submitted his own will to God’s however, I have been struggling from my end. This is the first time since I gave my life to Jesus that I will be outrightly rebellious. 

 

How does one give up one’s child as soon as she is born? The first born child! And Daddy told me He gave up His own Child too. 

 

It has been a struggle for many weeks now and the baby’s delivery is getting closer day by day. Joshua shared with me the day I met with sister Theresa. It has been a serious tug of war within me. I have lost my peace, joy. I have lost fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I feel like there’s a huge darkness lurking around my heart until a while ago when we felt Him come amidst us. 

 

He humbled me with those Words from Psalm 18:30-36.’

Theresa rushed to get a Bible from the study just adjacent to the living room. While Theresa was trying to soak the Words of the verses in, Daniella stood from where she was seated, went before Bisi and knelt. Then she said,

‘Mummy, please, pray for me. Ask the Lord to forgive me of my rebellion and give me grace to obey Him wholeheartedly.’ She beckoned to Theresa to come along too.

 

 

 

Bisi knelt with her, held her hands. And Bisi prayed! She prayed for mercy, for forgiveness, for grace, and for restoration of fellowship. 

 

By the time they were done, Daniella found eight missed calls from Joshua, Theresa found more on her phone. Daniella wanted to leave but Bisi won’t have her driving that late at night and Joshua won’t hear of it. He said he would come over. 

 

While they wait for Joshua to arrive, Bisi Ojo serves Daniella a meal. She has not eaten all day except for her breakfast. Bisi packed some for Joshua too. As Daniella was eating, Gideon also arrived home. 

 

Theresa ran to hug Gideon Ojo as he came in through the front door and got so emotional that she wept on his shoulder. Knowing exactly why she was crying, he asked, ‘Wifey told you already right? Don’t worry, it can only get better. Hmm? You know we must, right? My daughter…’ 

 

 

Bisi stood watching them for about a minute before she joined the hug and it was so emotional to watch. Daniella had left her food behind to come greet the man of the house. Seeing how the couple really cared for Theresa, she longed to also submit to their authority as her disciplers. 

 

 

Sensing Daniella’s presence, they pulled apart and Gideon went near Daniella. He extended his hand to her for a handshake and introduced himself as Bisi’s Gee. They all had a good laugh at the self introduction. 

After pleasantries were exchanged, Gideon excused himself briefly. As Joshua was being ushered in by the gatekeeper, Gideon returned. Daniella went to hug him and introduced him as her loving husband to Bisi and Gideon.

 

 

Theresa threw in that the couple were her heaven-sent angels at her most recent depressing moment. 

 

As though on cue, Bisi and Gideon went to the couple and gave them a heartfelt hug in appreciation. Soon enough it was time for Daniella and Joshua to return home. Bisi had handed the packed food to Joshua for his dinner and Gideon was leading a prayer. 

Suddenly, he took a pause for some few seconds and finished up his prayer. Then he said, ‘Joshua, do you mind staying over for the night?’

 

Daniella felt a leap within her. Not Little-P, a different joyful leap. Then she looked up at Joshua who was looking at her for a response. She smiled at him and nodded yes.

 

Joshua, not sure what had happened before his arrival sensed that his wife’s countenance was not only different, she felt and looked peaceful. He hasn’t seen her look like this since he broke the news of God’s will to her. 

 

Something must have happened here. 

 

‘Certainly, sir. We won’t mind staying for some fellowship time.’

 

‘Do you have an engagement for tomorrow? Your wife needs all the rest she can get.’

 

‘Nothing urgent that can’t wait.’

 

With a gentle smile and voice, Gideon said, ‘well then, Daniella, you should go serve your husband his meal at the dinning table.’

 

 

 

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Wheeeeew! 

Do you think God does coincidences? Are you thinking what I am thinking? Let me hear from you in the comment section. 

 

Catch up on all previous Checkmate episodes here.

 

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Checkmate Episode 29