Martha Olawale

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5

It was another one of those episodes my mum had to go through. She had been sick off and on for years. But something about that night triggered questions in me to ask why. Knowing how much she loved God and how many people I’ve seen God heal through her devotion to praying and fasting for them, I couldn’t wrap my head around why she had to be sick.

I’ve written about my mum’s faith a few times because it’s the foundation she laid for me that I’m building on. Although she went through more challenges than most people, her love for God was unwavering. Her life was centered around her walk with Him, and she went out of her way to extend that love to others. Her life was a relatable sample of what it means to know God.

No matter what the situation in the family is, Mum sings. I’ve not heard that voice in years, but the melodies of the hymns I wake up and sleep to are ingrained in my heart. As a young girl, I found strength in her joyful and upbeat personality because she was more heaven tuned than earth tuned, even when things looked wonky. She trusted her heavenly father’s goodness; although her condition might not look it, her countenance did. She saw beyond what others could see, giving her peace that could only be traced beyond the confines of a world that did not treat her kindly.

If you’ve ever been in a situation that overwhelms you to the point that you question why, you are not alone. Like anyone else, I don’t get a pass to an easy life because life is a short bumpy road before eternity. There were challenges behind me and even some around me now. But I will trade them all for the joy that rests deep beneath my soul. A joy that flows from the river of life I inherited as a child of God. And while there are a million things I don’t know, the one thing I do know is “Jesus loves me; this I know!”