LOVING WHEN IT IS HARDEST

I often tell my friends that it’s easy to follow the scriptural instruction to “love your enemies and pray for those who curse you”—when you have no known enemies.

We all laughed and debated the point over some delicious Nsala soup my wife, Linda, had prepared. But just a few days later, my friend Roland stormed into my office, fuming about being passed over for promotion again and receiving a lower bonus last year.

Before I could even say, “Bros, calm down,” Roland blurted out, “God will punish my boss and the entire management for treating me so badly!”

Smiling, I encouraged him to pause and think. I’ve been in his shoes before. I told him that anger wouldn’t solve anything and that it’s in moments like these that we need to choose forgiveness and love—no matter how hard it feels.

I reminded him of the scripture that says, “The hearts of kings are in the palm of God’s hands.” Sometimes, in this our Nigeria, promotions don’t happen because of your talent or hard work. You even sometimes don't get promoted because someone above you fears your growth. Still, I’ve seen God move the hearts of even wicked men in my favour.

The real challenge isn’t when life is smooth; it’s when you have to deal with people who deeply hurt you:

A friend who always dupes you in business.
A husband who cheats.
A father who never provides for his family.
A so-called friend who’s never there when you need them, etc.

These are the ones who don’t deserve the titles we’ve given them, and it’s easy to think of them as enemies. But the question is this: can you truly wish them well and trust God for their redemption?

For me, I strive to take the excellent way—to love my enemies and pray for those who curse me. It’s not always easy, but it’s always better.

YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK, IS IT POSSIBLE TO LOVE WHEN IT IS HARDEST.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, oh. 😊

Comments

DEBT IS A VERY BAD THING

You may not know me personally, but take this from me: DEBT COULD BE A TERRIBLE THING. As long as you owe someone, you remain their servant, no matter how talented or respected you are. Yesterday, while driving to work and enjoying my heavenly sandwich, I spotted Emeka in traffic and nearly lost my appetite. Why? I remembered how badly I suffered in his hands after I was duped of the money I had borrowed from him to fund a certain business opportunity. Let me gist you. When I went back to Emeka to explain what had happened, he empathised with me and even offered a payment plan since it was clear I couldn't return the money all at once. Sometime after, we were both invited to serve as panellists at a supply chain management event. I was the first to share my thoughts on a topic, which Emeka later disagreed with. But my take must have sounded more compelling, because I was asked to expand further. Crazy me (forgetting that my oga at the top was seated beside me), I took a whiteboar...

DO NOT LET ANYONE LOOK DOWN ON YOUR BUSINESS

DO NOT LET ANYONE LOOK DOWN ON YOUR BUSINESS A few years ago, at my friend's grocery shop, I witnessed a heated altercation between him and one of his sales staff. The scene was unpleasant, with harsh words flying back and forth. When I inquired, I discovered that he had audited the shop's accounts and deducted the cost of missing items from the staff member's salary, per their prior agreement. Upset by this, the staff member decided to resign, demanding a refund of the deductions. My friend responded, "We'll need to inform your guarantor about the missing items before I can process a refund." This remark caused the staff member to angrily exclaim, "This small, nonsense shop is asking for a guarantor—how much is the entire business even worth?" I noticed those words hit my friend hard. He felt his business wasn’t being respected because it was seen as “too small” to deserve proper structure. To every business owner out there, running a business is a ...

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER PRISON ?

A few years ago, I listened to a message by Bishop T.D. Jakes where he spoke about the high likelihood of ex-convicts returning to prison. This, he said, was largely due to the difficulty they face reintegrating into society. One major challenge is public acceptance. Many employers don’t want individuals with criminal records associated with their brand. Others fear that the ex-convict might relapse into old behaviours, potentially causing harm or bringing trouble to their organisation. While these concerns are understandable, Bishop Jakes advocated for meaningful reform during incarceration. He suggested that churches, manufacturers, and other businesses should create training programmes for inmates—equipping them with skills that will help them survive once they are released. The goal? To reduce the temptation to return to crime. A few days ago, while scrolling through social media, I came across a photo with a caption that caught my attention: President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina F...

Ask Chuka

Search This Blog