As you (may) know, I am currently training as a Maths Teacher in Manchester, and as part of my training year, I have to spend at one term of the three terms of an academic year in a contrast school so that I can get a different experience of teaching and so hopefully be a more rounded/experienced/versatile teacher. At least, that’s the way I see it. My ‘contrast school’ placement has been this summer term and that got me thinking about my bosses at my main placement school! I’m not sure if they’ll like being called ‘bosses’ but that’s a much shorter phrase than their official titles.
Image credit: MisterAsk
While thinking about my main bosses and then looking back over my career till that time, I can only conclude that GOD’s favour has been upon my life in that area. I’ve never had an issue with my bosses. I have been most blessed and highly favoured in that area, you can come for some laying hands. From my Industrial Training (IT) placement in the 4th year of undergraduate studies at UNILAG to NYSC to PhD to Post-Doctoral till now, I’ve always had great bosses. And I am really thankful for these blessings.
One exception though, during my BSc industrial training placement, one ‘lady-oga’ did not like me, but before I finished there, I found favour in her sight! Till today, I’m not quite sure what caused the heart change. Maybe because her office colleague regularly called me her ‘darling and a half’!! Hearing that regularly for 8 months must have sold it to her…lol. NYSC year was amazing, again great bosses up to Executive Director. PhD and Post-Doctoral seasons – two of the most supportive supervisors any research student could ask for.
When friends and colleagues speak to me about their dissimilar experiences with their bosses, to be honest, I can only empathise to a limited degree because I can’t truly feel them on their wavelength, so I offer support in prayers and encouragement. And this ties in well, at least in my head, with what I read this¹ morning in Numbers 32 from verse 6 when two tribes of the children of Israel – Reuben and Gad, went to ask Moses to allow them get their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan river.
Image credit: Giphy
Although Moses was initially mad at them for asking that, as it would cause discouragement to the rest of the tribes, by the time they explained their case further and promised to cross over with their brethren, he signed off on it. Whilst reading verse 16 – 18, it dawned on me that even though the Reubenites and Gadites had their inheritance already and did not need to fight any more battles, they offered to LEAD the other tribes in battle to claim the land GOD had given them. The keyword here being ‘LEAD’, they were going to “go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place . . . We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.”
It drove home the point that I’m not free from battles, so to speak, even when GOD has settled me in my inheritance in a particular area of life. But rather, because GOD has set me free from those battles, I have even greater responsibility to stand and fight with my brothers and sisters in Christ, those in my sphere of influence, those around me, till they fully come into their inheritance. My shoulders are freer so I can carry more of their burdens and make their lives easier; I can truly bear their burdens which is fulfilling the law of Christ (Galatians 6 v 2). I can be the one visiting, calling/texting, helping out, encouraging, supporting, so they can possess their lands. Standing with others was more apparent during my PhD as friends had bosses that didn’t seem as great as mine, at least from their side of the story.
Image credits: QuotesGram and LikeSuccess
What an honour it is to see our fellow believers fully occupy the lands GOD has designed for them to. Try it and I’m sure you’ll see how much joy and fulfilment it brings to your life and takes your mind away from dwelling on those personal battles in other areas you’re still waiting on for a manifestation of victory. And you’ll watch how GOD will send others into your life to stand with you in those areas, to cross you over to your Canaan land.
In what ways, have you borne or can you bear another’s burden in the places where you’ve had victory? Share in the comments below and let’s get started on fulfilling the law of Christ! What joy!!
To your occupying promised lands!
¹ the morning of drafting this post ≠ the morning of publishing it
Comments