Hello dear reader,
The lord has been gracious to BeDeborah.
He has taught us how grad school can also serve as a ministry ground. The purpose has been to serve—to share stories that uplifts and encourage others. A lot comes with being in grad school (even to be a student at all). And to throw being an international student in the mix, what a journey! By God’s grace the Lord has shown us how we can serve from small places, even from the ubiquitous social media space. It doesn’t have to be glamorous, just do the next right thing.
In five years, BeDeborah has reached people across different countries and continents with a message (summary picture attached), more importantly with the good news of Christ. I believe God is doing His work in the lives of everyone touched by BeDeborah. One lesson is that if you believe God has placed something in your mind to do, do it. He will make a way. Yours is to obey.
We have not always been consistent or appear dutiful with posting and sharing (no excuses here). There were quiet times and inactive seasons, but BeDeborah has always been a state of mind. As much as we could, we have shared our time in writing, sharing and reaching out. I hope you have never concluded that I was perfect, that will be misleading. I am only a vessel God is using as He continues to teach, prune, correct, convict, guide, sanctify me until the Perfect day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If any of BeDeborah’s posts has crossed your path or popped up on your timeline at any time, thank you. We hope you’ve been blessed.
As I wrap up this phase of life. It surely feels like the end of an era, and I am very grateful for everything.
BeDeborah is evolving and we hope you continue to check out messages on the blog or on the social media pages (Please follow BeDeborah page on Facebook). My prayer is that whenever you visit the blog or stop to read a post, may you catch a timely word that edifies. Overall, it’s been fun guys!!
By the grace of God, I officially graduated!! I finally earned a doctoral degree in microbiology! This is a fulfilment of God’s promises from yesteryears. To God be the glory!
I love to share a message, one that has culminated from observing the unfolding of my story and the stories of many other clouds of witnesses. I only recently learnt from an extensive study of Jacob and Esau in the bible. The summary from the exposition is that it makes a difference when you are blessed and processed altogether. Over the years and with much more learning I have gradually moved from saying “Trust the process”, to saying, “Trust the Lord with the process.”
The winter
There is a beauty in winter, I’d like to dwell on for a bit.
The period of hibernation, the revel in the mundane. It’s quiet and it’s not glamorous. Yet it is an important season for the coming desirable phases. You need it.
There was a season I sat with winter. The time of preparation, 2016 – 2026. A testament to a passing time and enduring conviction. NYSC. NCCF. Tutoring job. Applications. Diagnosis. Grief. Foreigner. Grad school. Marriage. Motherhood. Winter is only a passage, a touring vessel to a transient destination. Don’t rush it. Allow the maturation process. And here is an answer to the looming, scary monstrous thing we call life: Emmanuel-God with us.
It reminds me of the butterfly. The struggle of the cocoon phase can’t be skipped no matter how much you’d love to see the butterfly break forth. The trying is necessary for growth before the caterpillar emerges into a beautiful butterfly we all come to admire. The process is necessary. For to be a life that bears fruits, first, it has to surrender to be a seed that dies first. The breaking is critical to becoming.
I pray for you reader, with all my love and well wishes. The Lord is with you and will bring to pass all His plans for you. Amen in Jesus Christ name. 💝
Dr. Olushola D. Awoyemi (Olaniyi-Adewumi).
