Lightning and Thunder

6

𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑

EPISODE 6 (AUSTIN'S POV)

Dawn came too fast. Today, I had a live presentation scheduled for an international investor who wants to sponsor my tech startup and there was no way I could miss it even though I wished to stay to care for Nisha. 
I was a mess, both physically and mentally, thanks to the events of last night.

After I had used the authority of the word of God, backed up with Judith's intercessory prayers, to cast that vile demon out of Nisha's body—a battle that lasted about an hour—I suggested that we take Nisha to the hospital so she could recuperate. Judith insisted that it was a bad idea. What if we were asked to leave her alone to rest and a rebound happened? I saw the logic in that line of thought so I drove them to their apartment.

"I have to go," I said to Judith after Nisha had been tucked into bed and we had said prayers over her.

She nodded her reply. After the whole drama at the beach, she hadn't spoken very little to me. I guessed she was embarrassed. I was still in a bit of shock and confusion about what Nisha said. I didn't know how to process that.

As I made to go out the door, she called out, "Austin..."

I paused and turned slightly, my brows raised in question.

She sighed and came to stand before me. I noticed her dishevelled look and the bags underneath her eyes, but there was this tangible glow of compassion around her.
The confrontation with that Crio demon had taken its toll on her, yes, but she was undoubtedly the kind of friend that stuck closer than a sister through thick and thin.

Her voice was small when she spoke.
"I know it all seems crazy and hard to take in, what you heard Nisha say, but it's true. I never intend to be the girl who snatches her best friend's fiance. I just wrote the things God told me about you. My hands are also tied here. Why don't you ask God yourself?"

I couldn't say anything. Ask God again? I had prayed before I proposed to Nisha and even got permission from my spiritual father, Rev. Iyua.
I loved Nisha, didn't I?
She was the perfect package of all I wanted—independent, beautiful and godly—not until these ugly realities began to rear their heads.

As I drove home, I did ask questions and prayed in tongues to clear my jumbled thoughts. Slowly, the Holy Spirit started connecting the dots in my mind.

"I answered you according to the desire of your heart, son. You were so myopic and self-centred that you didn't ask me what I wanted for you. Judith is my will for you, Austin."

While I was in the shower, I screamed to release the pent-up frustration in me.

"Why, Lord? Why didn't you tell me until now? I had peace. I thought that was supposed to be your approval. Now, everything is so messed up," I said.

"I kept trying to tell you but you deliberately ignored me. This whole trigger via Nisha's diagnosis is my way to heal and redirect all of you because I love you."

I partly knew why I was resisting. Judith couldn't contest with Nisha's beauty. She was the moon to Nisha's sun. If not that Nisha picked her from the trenches, Judith would be nothing.
Besides, though I respected Judith, I didn't have feelings like that for her.

After I came out of the shower and dried myself, I saw my revelation journal on my desk. I felt the urge to pick it. As I flipped through it, I came to the place where I started recording the convictions I had concerning Nisha.

As I reread them it was as though a scale was lifted from my eyes and I began to see all the pointers to the fact that God had been telling me it was Judith who was the one for me.

Everything became clear. Oh, bother! I had been so wrong all along. I knew what I had to do, but it looked so impossible at this juncture.

Nisha still had a long way to go. Who knew if she would ever recover from whatever haunted her in her past? If I did what God was telling me, I would be tagged a fool and a traitor.

I managed to don my clothes and head out. Breakfast was out of the question. I was already running late.

Thankfully, I got to the office just in time.

While I was in the meeting, I was very distracted. My mind kept wandering to all the moments when Judith and I had interacted. I remembered all her support and love without malice toward Nisha and me.
She sure was strong to have silently borne the pain of knowing she was meant for me.

At a point, I groaned aloud. I apologized to the startled attendees. My PA had to stand in for me while I excused myself to the gents.

As I paced in front of the mirror, God asked me a question that I didn't understand.

"Austin, who is more relevant, the one who plants or the one who waters?"

I scrunched my brows, wondering what that had to do with my current dilemma.

I knew He was waiting for my response so I pulled up the corresponding scripture from my memory bank.

"1Cor.3.7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase."

"Nisha isn't your seed, nor the soil where your purpose partner will blossom. Though flawed, she is just the instrument to plough the ground and water the seed. That's why she was the one who led Judith to me and even groomed her. All that was part of my perfect plan to bring you and my daughter, Judith, together. But you were so distracted by the gardener that you ignored me, the Lord, the one who gives the increase."

I ran my fingers through my hair and looked into the mirror.
My brain was about to explode.

I had to go on a personal retreat ASAP. But before that, a visit to Rev Iyua would be necessary. He was a man of great discernment and I trusted that he wouldn't mislead me. I had enough proof that he was a true servant of God. I had a feeling he had foreknowledge of all that God was now making clear to me.

I just didn't know what to do, or how to begin afresh.

~~~

Author's note: Hello guys! Thanks for reading this episode of Lightning and Thunder.
The lesson here is that, oftentimes, we try to interpret God's revelations to suit our desires.
When God begins to bring clarity, don't resist His will though it might not be what you want.
The focus should be on God, not on the planter or waterer of the seed.
I pray that God will continue to lead us and we will follow him wherever he leads.
Watch out for the next episode.