By Pastor Bayo Olujimi
No matter how hard we try, education, money, or religion never seems to prevent disappointment from coming to us. Destiny helpers can fail being human. The poorest as well as the richest are affected. An inner voice keeps telling us something is wrong.
Leaders and difference-makers are those who are schooled in the art of managing disappointment. To be a leader and difference maker, you must learn how to handle disappointment in life, career, family, and ministry. Disappointment is simply the tension between the real and the ideal. It is anything frustrating, distasteful, upsetting, unsatisfactory, and uncomfortable to you in the pursuit of your goal.
The response to the shock receipt depends on the ‘shock-absorber’ in the system of individuals. (Jeremiah 12:5; Phil.4:13). But you can be helped. (Psalms 46:1; Hebrews 4:16). When other destiny helpers fail, the words of this hymn are helpful and comforting in such a time of loneliness and solitude due to socioeconomic and political hardship.
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord with me abides; When other helpers fail, and comforts flee; Help of the helpless, oh Abide with me. The hymn, ‘Abide with me’, was written by Rev. Henry F. Lyte (1793-1847). He came out with the written words in a period when his health declined. He found comfort in the words of the hymn before he finally joined the saint’s triumphants.
The hymn has blessed millions of leaders and different makers in differing situations of life. You can also find consolation in this hymn of prayer by Annie S. Hawks, (1835-1918) as well.
I need Thee every hour; Most gracious Lord; No tender voice like Thine; Can peace afford; I need Thee o I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee. Oh, bless me now, my Saviour! I come to Thee. The Lord Jesus Christ says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest…and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” ( Matthew 11:28; John 6:37).
In a time like this, believers and difference makers do find comfort and solace in hymns and the Word of God. Hymns provide solace to human souls in times of joy, sorrow, anxiety, tribulation, and crucial human predicaments. They can draw people closer to God for divine intervention. The admonition of Paul in Ephesians 5:19, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” is worth practicing.
He further admonishes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16).
When you meditate on the Word of God (Joshua 1:8) and hymns, you will be illuminated and be helped by the Spirit of the Lord to see the way out of your predicaments. Bayo Olujimi President/Pastor Christ Correspondence Ministries, Inc, Ibadan, Oyo State.
