Deuteronomy 1:2, Isaiah 58:8, Hebrews 6:19, Psalm 126:1, Psalm 34:5, Romans 8:37

Olumide Kolawole shares his testimony of waiting 12 years to have children, as he encourages us to have hope in our night experiences, as we wait for our dawn.

Olumide Kolawole

'It is only eleven days journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea, yet Israel took forty years to get beyond it.' (Deuteronomy 1:2)

The above account is about when the people of the nation of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, making what was actually an 11-day journey.

My emphasis here is on 'wandering'. Wandering can be as a result of an absence of light, especially before the literal breaking of dawn:

'Then your light will break forth as the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring out.' (Isaiah 58:8)

What explicitly comes to mind from Isaiah 58:8 is that the break of the dawn happens suddenly, and the arrival of dawn is accompanied with light (and as it were, a light experience to the person that dawn breaks out for). From experience, anything that could not be found in the dark (prior to the time of dawn) becomes visible, or rather becomes manifest in the open, for eyes to see.

Isaiah 58:8 also states that 'recovery shall be quick', as the supposedly 'lost time' will surely be recovered by the grace of God.

It has not always been in my character to share my personal life experience with people who are not close to me, but I have been prompted by the Spirit of God to share it on this medium, because Revelations 12:11 accounts that, 'They overcame by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony', making me believe that at least one person if not more will be encouraged to not give up during their wilderness experience.

Our Story:

My wife and I got married in 2003 and two years after, we were not yet really worried when our children had not come. However, pressure began to build as the years progressed and we were in 'God's waiting room' for 12 years while praying, and God's mercy came through for us. Ask me if we were stressed up and the answer is yes. Ask me if we were broken and the answer is yes. Ask me if we were discouraged and the answer is yes. But we were definitely not out. We still had our tiny strand of hope that was anchored on God, just as in Hebrews 6:19 which states, 'Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.'

The strong conviction my wife and I held onto all through the period before the breaking of our dawn, was that of assurance that dawn will surely break after every night experience.

Psalm 126:1 accounts that, 'When the Lord turned around the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.'

I am happy to share to you all that the Lord visited my wife and I, and after the 12 year wilderness experience, we now have three wonderful children, all within a short space.

Psalm 34:5 accounts that, 'They looked unto Him, their faces were radiant, and not ashamed.'

Are there people going through situations that could be likened to night experiences? Please be encouraged as I declare that as the Lord lives, your dawn will surely come. Amen.

Zig Ziglar mentioned in one of his books that one of the most remarkable men he had ever known was Charlie Wedemeyer who suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease. This meant that the only parts of his body he could move were his eyes and mouth. His wife Lucy was his interpreter. She read his lips and effectively delivered his message.

Charlie regularly spoke to businesses, at churches, schools and prisons. He might be the only speaker in America who can't speak. Needless to say, his life and wife communicate a powerful message of hope, love and a 'never-give-up' spirit. They both have a passion to make a difference.

Romans 8:37 says, 'But despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us.'

I pray that all eyes will see and all ears hear your testimony. Amen.