Obedience is better than sacrifice

By Anne Anjao-eboi

“Last week, I said that I had two testimonies to share with you. My second testimony revolves around my career.

For years, I worked as a high school teacher of English and never had any ambitions of advancement. I believe my lack of ambition came from the fact that my husband was doing well financially and, truthfully, my money was only for clothes and other such things that gratified me.

But slowly, over a number of years, shockers started flowing my way. My husband lost his job and, try as he might, he could not get one to match the one he had had. It suddenly dawned on me that my meagre government teaching job was all we had.

To say that stress set in would be an understatement. At that time, I was earning around Sh5,000 a month.

Having been unprepared for this state of affairs, it was hardly surprising when I slid into depression. And this depression would last many years, probably because I had not yet found out how to beat depression: Simply tapping into the saving grace of the Lord.

When I did, I began to understand many of the principles behind God’s word and how to stay close to God. God began using me to help others get out of the depression zone.

But the poverty and lack of job fulfilment continued. I knew this was not God’s will for me and so I began to engage Him on this issue. Before long, I heard His voice: Go back to school. I broke into a sweat. How could I go back to school when I could hardly afford rent?

By this time, my husband had tried several businesses, with disastrous consequences that forced us to sell everything we had to get out of debt. Secondly, my colleagues discouraged me, saying the principal did not like people studying because it would turn their attention away from work.

Obedience is better than sacrifice, the word of God says. I walked into the University of Nairobi, picked application forms, completed the procedure and promptly received my admission letter, with which I obtained a loan of Sh120,000 from the Higher Education Loans Board.

The loan was granted quickly enough, but the university took long to process it, and so, without an admission number, I started attending class and only signing my name. But exams were on the way in December. How could I do them without an admission number? A couple of us who were affected simply walked into the finance office, got a letter allowing us to do the exams, and the rest is history, as they say.

So, what next after the degree? God then granted me the favour of doing this article. Africa Nazarene University considered me for part-time teaching in three units.

I had learned a few lessons along the way. How badly you want something will determine your level of intimacy with the Lord. He had promised to fulfil the desires of my heart. I told Him my greatest desire was to quit teaching at the secondary school level and move entirely to the university level. The opportunity arose in faraway Kigali, where, after a year, I finally hang up my secondary school teaching boots.

Two weeks ago, I received the most unexpected quick answer to prayer when the deputy principal in charge of administration, called me to his office to tell me that I had been found worthy to move from being a lecturer to head the School of Journalism. What’s more, I am starting my last academic journey in August, courtesy of the Lord Almighty.

What more can I say? Trust in the Lord and obey His word. What He has promised, He will deliver. But you must always testify of His goodness, regardless of your circumstances.