While this post could’ve been titled ‘Dear Law School Graduate’, it shouldn’t be so titled.
It should be titled ‘Dear Christian’, because it applies to all Christians.
Unraveled though, does the job best.
I had wondered why the inspiration to publish yesterday (Saturday) wasn’t available to me – I get it now. The blog post was meant to be a Sunday post based off on Saturday’s events.
El Evento/ The Event –
Circa 11pm on Friday, July 3 2020, the Nigerian Law school result for April 2019 set was released.
In the course of my evening routine, I had wanted to sing a particular hymn but hadn’t gotten round to doing so at the time I got the information that made my heart do a rapid beat. Result has been released. Deciding I best soak in the Spirit first ?, I paused and sang the particular hymn I had been putting off.
I saw a first class degree. In that moment I thought there were many other first class results and it was a big big celebration everywhere. It wasn’t necessarily to be so (with regards to the first class and not the celebrations).
Spilling into Saturday, the congratulations that flooded my phone seeing I was one of the five first class graduates in the country was overwhelming.
Being overwhelming, I followed the whelm and … I got overwhelmed by men’s expectations.
Circa 12:30am on July 5, 2020; In the middle of the night (when all the noise went to sleep), I got this message from God – Unraveled.
Here are my instant tweets as the thoughts developed:
While the song writer sang about fear, I see that a lot of us need to be delivered from worries of the future, from the expectations of men, from (insert your experience).
You need to be unraveled. Not harshly and scaringly, but with a song.
Picture that – being slowly but steadily unraveled from the cords of anxieties and expectations. Unraveled by God’s song. By God’s melody doing the work.
By his rhythm of grace.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Matthew 11:28-30
God never created us to be complex and damaged. He created us to be whole and filled with his Spirit. Do not go about wrapped by bondage. But by songs of deliverance. We’re the sons and the daughters …let us sing our freedom!
You, dear reader, are not defined by your grades or your looks or your achievements. You’re wrapped in his arms of ever-singing-melodious-grace. You’re placed in a music chamber – you’re surrounded and made free by the Father and His songs.
Jesus set you free, why should you be bound?
Read also: My Playing Small Does Not Serve The World (which I wrote after my first law school dinner). In it, is this quote:
I AM A PERSON. I AM NOT A MACHINE, SPREADSHEET, AGENDA OR RÉSUMÉ. I HAVE A HEARTBEAT, SKIN, SCARS AND A SOUL. MY WORTH ISN’T CALCULATED IN EFFICIENCIES, RESULTS OR LADDERS CLIMBED. I AM NOT THE SUM OF MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS — OR THE SUM OF MY MISTAKES. I AM NOT MY AMBITION, ENERGY LEVEL, APPROVAL RATING, MASS APPEAL OR WORTH TO THE COMPANY STORE. I AM NOT AN A-PLUS OR D-MINUS. I AM NOT A MESS OR A MISCALCULATION. I AM NOT A MISTAKE. RATHER, I AM A MIRACLE. AND SO ARE YOU. BECAUSE I AM A PERSON, MADE OF LOVE IN THE HANDS OF GOD. I WILL BE A PERSON TODAY. I WILL BE ME. I WILL RESIST THE URGE TO BELIEVE I’VE GOT TO FIGHT FOR MY PIECE; GOD SAYS THERE’S MORE THAN ENOUGH TO GO AROUND. I WILL SEE THE BEST IN OTHERS AND RECOGNIZE THE BEST IN MYSELF. I WILL REACH FOR VIRTUE MORE THAN TROPHIES, DIGNITY MORE THAN STARDOM. I WILL CHOOSE ENCOURAGEMENT OVER ENVY. I WILL REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE. I WILL STAND TALL ON THE INSIDE, EVEN IF I’M FEELING WEAK ON THE OUTSIDE. I AM A PERSON, A CITIZEN OF THE KINGDOM, WHERE THERE IS UNENDING GRACE FOR ME. BECAUSE I AM A PERSON, AND I BELONG TO JESUS
Sing your freedom, you who are defined by God’s word and not the happenings of life. Sing your freedom.
#TeamUnraveled
You unraveled me with your melody You surround me with a song Of deliverance from my enemies Till all my fears are gone – Listen on YouTube
As always, Love and light
Debby.