CWRC Anthology

FAVOUR

©2022 by Idowu Taiwo Deborah

Brought to you by the Christian Writers and Readers Club.

Lilly was late for work. She's had the worst possible morning and it was getting worse by the second.

She'd missed the morning bus. It was the bus that was to take her to her office. Her office was on the other side of town and she was getting late, something she couldn't afford to be. The bus let out a ghastly smoke as if to mock her.

Lilly coughed as she inhaled the smoke from the wonky contraption.

Seething from both nostrils, she hailed a taxi. It was going to cost her five times as much as the bus but she had no choice.

It was either that or she would have to wait for a later bus which was only arriving ten minutes later and she didn't have all the time in the world.

Lilly had set the alarm to wake her up early the previous night but due to the stress of the previous day, she woke up a good hour late.

Of all the days to rear his ugly head, the devil chose the worst one.

Lilly was to write her promotion exams that day. Failure to meet up meant she would automatically forfeit the much-anticipated position of Managing Director. It was a position she had coveted for four years since she got a job at that firm. And that was after many years of waiting on the Lord.

She had waited for this moment for six months since the day of the exam had been announced.

Nothing out of the ordinary had happened in the months leading to today but why has misfortune decided to lift its ugly head today?

Much to her horror as the taxi was about to round the corner, they were met with a long traffic jam one that spanned the length of four blocks.

Lilly normally avoided most of the hold up since she got up early for work but today, the heavens didn't seem to be smiling at her.

She silently cursed under her breath before quickly asking God for forgiveness.

"Lord you know how hard I've worked for this position. You know how much effort I've put into this job."

While she was wallowing in pain and self-pity, there was a motorcyclist that recognised her just passing through.

She was too far away to hear him calling her. Her head was bent down in despair, she thought all hope was lost.

The noise pollution wasn't helping matters and since the motorcyclist had tried calling her to no avail he gave up and left.

Meanwhile, Lilly was still in despair inside the car.

She sobbed for ten more minutes, recounting how God had promised her this job and even encouraged her to apply for it only to now abandon her halfway.

She felt a pang in her chest and nudging by the Holy Spirit.

"I am here for you. I love you. My plans for you are good. Time and seasons are in my hands. For I know the thoughts I have towards you, thoughts of good and not of evil to give you an expected end. I will give you your expected end. Wipe your tears."

She felt the love of the Holy Spirit and she looked up and wiped her tears.

And there he was, the motorcyclist that she knew. He hadn't peddled too far.

The spirit quickened her to get down from the taxi quickly and she did. She paid the driver his fee and sprinted to the bike man calling out his name.

"Mr Favour! It's me, Lilly!"

Mr Favour looked up with a smile almost as though he had been waiting for her.

"Ms Lilly, how are you?"

"I'm fine. Please I need to make an appointment. Please help me get there on time." As though he had been waiting for her to say exactly that, he flashed her a smile and she thanked the Lord in her head.

All hope wasn't lost. There was always a way.

He is with us through the storm, in the fire, in the waters, in the wilderness.

God will never leave us. God perfects all things in his time.

Lilly got to her office in record time.
She got there as the door to the exam hall was about to be closed.

"Olohun yo eh." (God saved you).
The attendant said with a smile and indeed the Lord did.

Lilly flashed the attendant a nervous smile before hurrying into the hall.

She got into the exam hall prepared. She looked around her and saw everyone seated. About fifty people were writing this exam and only four positions were available.

"Lord single me out among the multitude and show me your favour." She prayed and she was immediately reminded of the event earlier that day and her encounter with Mr Favour.

It put her mind at ease.

God is too faithful to fail her.

And indeed God remained faithful. She finished the exam that day satisfied with what she wrote and went about with her normal office duties.

Weeks passed no one heard about the results but she kept praying hoping for a sign from the Lord.

Along the line, there was announced a complication with the scoring.

While three winners have been announced, apparently two other people had the same score.

Lilly prayed like she never had in her life. One of those people would be the winner while the other would have to try again the next year.

Lilly didn't want to lose this opportunity. The day of the final result came and behold the hand of the Lord, her name was written in full on the notice board.

That night she had a dream, it was the Lord showing her a broad place. Indeed her cries did not go unnoticed and the Lord who promised was able to fulfil His promises.

Lilly hugged the Lord in her dreams that night and thanked God.

God is indeed marvellous.

*THE END*

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