"You always have to remember that you're more than conqueror. Scripture says in Romans 8:36 that "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." God didn't make weaklings neither did He make feeble men subject to their feelings. You have to rise and take your place as the Victor you are in Christ Jesus. Rise above rejections, rise above disappointments, above sicknesses! You are more than conqueror!"

"Turn to five people around you and say to them 'I am more than a conqueror'!"

There was a joyful uproar as Godswill screamed out loud with the other parishioners that Sunday morning in response to their Pastor's preaching. It was like God was speaking to him personally through the word that morning.

Oh! What a joy to know that God is mindful of me!

Of course, he hadn't fully gotten over his thoughts of inadequacy but he was getting better. Tunde had spoken to him like a brother after he had had his fill of food and laughter.

As the church service drew to a close, Godswill made a note to see his Pastor before leaving. Asides from Pastor Jacob being his pastor, he was also his mentor and he knew he had to see him. He had resolved and he needed someone to stay accountable to.

As a member of the Hospitality Team, he was required to help in receiving the first-timers every service day and this morning was no different. It was always a joy to see new people come to church. Some were new believers searching for a home church, some just came visiting and there was the particular set that just came for the gift bag usually given. But Godswill understood that whatever reason any of these people had, they were still God's children and they would stay in his church if God led them to. And it was his duty to make them feel warm and welcome into his spiritual family.

He moved along with his other team members to the room where they usually received guests with a full-blown genuine smile on his face.

*****

These protocol officers have started today again.

Godswill had approached them to make an appointment to see Pastor Jacob but they were asking questions like what he wanted to see him for and if he had a prior appointment and blah and blah. He understood that they were only doing their duty and he should probably have made an appointment in advance, but the matter was impromptu. He needed to see Pastor Jake, as he was fondly called by the parishioners.

After much back and forth, his name had been squeezed into the list of people to see his pastor.

Finally. He sighed as he made his way to take a seat in the lounge.

*****

"Mr Godswill Efe."

He heard his name called and he signified by rising from his seat. He was ushered into Pastor Jacob's office.

Pastor Jake was the senior pastor at The Revealing Church, which he co-pastored with his wife, Pastor Mimololuwa. The church was roughly about eight years and the church was growing in leaps and bounds. The word of God was rich and the manifestations of the Spirit of God was ever-present. Godswill could testify to the goodness of God since he became a member of the church.

The church auditorium was located in one of the prime areas of the city of Abeokuta and could sit about seven to eight hundred parishioners comfortably with a large space to serve as a parking lot. The main building was about two storeys high with the second storey serving as the gallery, painted in dark tones of grey on the outside and white inside. There were about six entry points which also served as the exit points. The stage was well-decorated with a LED screen as the backdrop and aesthetically placed artificial flowers surrounding the steps leading to the platform.

Aside from these, what drew people to the church was the love that was evident in the atmosphere as soon as one walked in. And Godswill had been no exception. He had been a member for about five years and a steward for three and a half years. And every day he was grateful to God for planting him in such a family.

As soon as he got in, he bent at the waist to greet him. "Good afternoon, Pastor."

"Godswill, how are you?" Pastor Jacob asked with a smile on his face. He looked really glad to see him.

"I'm great, sir. Well done, sir. Great word today. It was just what I needed, sir," he enthused.

"Wow! Glory be to the name of the Lord."

"Amen!"

"You know, God's word doesn't just come to us to leave us the same. His word comes to change and move us to a destination," his pastor continued. "So, how have you been? I haven't seen you since the last Mentoring Meeting we had. What are the new things going on?"

Godswill glanced at his pastor and knew that he knew something. His pastor was very keen in the Spirit and he, for one, was not going to prevaricate. He also knew he had been going against some instructions both from the Holy Spirit and even his pastor. Well, he had come to report himself.

"Erm, well, sir. I have been getting very concerned about relationship matter and marriage. But every lady, I have approached seems to see me as a brother or friend. And I know you confirmed an instruction I received from the Holy Spirit too about waiting. But my friends are getting married. Besides, I'm not getting younger and I'm almost the last one in my group of classmates who isn't hitched yet."

Godswill knew he was excusing himself. And that the excuses weren't even valid. He wasn't a baby in Christ. He had just allowed the cares of getting married get to him and get to him, they had.

He looked at his pastor again and noted his smile. A smile that said he knew something but he wasn't going to say it.

"Well, you know better than to compare yourself to anyone else. We all have different prophetic destinies. All we have to do is hear from God concerning them and align ourselves with His instructions. He knows the end from the beginning, beloved."

Contrite, Godswill stared at his brown Oxford shoes. "Yes, sir."

He heard Pastor Jacob adjust himself in his seat and looked up.

"So, let's do this. Take a break from thinking thoughts of marriage and babies and all. And just focus on discovering more about your purpose, career and even relationship. I will recommend some books for you to read. And you will take some time to pray, listen to messages and just have the right motive and perspective about marital relationships," Pastor Jacobs instructed. "Your relationship is closer than you think but you need to be prepared for it. Running from one sister to another isn't the way out."

Godswill smiled. This was the exact resolution he wanted to take and his pastor just confirmed it, again.

Thank God for pastors after God's heart.

"Now, how's your restaurant doing? My kids won't let me rest. They always want to eat that pineapple bread."

"It's doing great. God has been good to us and ideas upon ideas keep coming to make the restaurant better. I can't thank God enough."

"Well, it's just the beginning. This work will prosper in your hands. You will feed nations. In Jesus name!" Pastor prayed.

Godswill responded with an Amen that he was sure shook the windows in Pastor Jake's office. "Thank you so much, sir. For your time and prayers."

"You're welcome, beloved. Do send me a message reminding me to send you the book recommendations."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," Godswill greeted as he made to leave his office.

Well, that went well. God is good.

He knew just his determination wasn't enough. He needed to stay accountable to his pastor and his friend. When faced with a challenge or when one makes a mistake, that isn't the time to hide or isolate oneself. It is the time to seek help.

No matter how amazing any lady is now, I just have to remain focused. No more unwise proposal decisions. They are my sisters in Christ and friends now.

Whistling to himself, he greeted his fellow church folks and made his way to his car.

******

It was Monday morning and Folashade Ajani had just been summoned to her boss' office. She had just been about to begin the work for the day when his secretary called her in.

What does he want this morning? It's too early for this today o. Fola, as she was popularly called, mused anxiously to herself. As she stood to go to his office, she patted the right pocket in her red flared trousers to feel for the small can of pepper spray she had purchased over the weekend. And adjusted her navy blue Paisley-patterned shirt to check that all her buttons were securely in place.

Fola knew she had a great slim body at 5 feet and 8 inches with the perfect proportions paired with a pretty face that showcased her soft jawline, big, round eyes surrounded by long, curled eyelashes and shapely lips. Even her brown skin seemed to glow like the twelve noon sun at every moment. The only feature she wasn't pleased with were her eyebrows. They stopped midway over each eye so she had to draw them everytime. Regardless, her body had been her weapon in times past. But not anymore. She had even begun to grow wary of untoward gazes or glances in her direction whenever she was in public spaces but she still kept her confidence. She had a new understanding that her confidence didn't come from her physical appearance or what she had but from who she was as a new creature.

And after the previous encounter with her boss, she was covering all the bases.

Last week's event will not repeat itself.

She got to his door and knocked twice before she pushed his door open. As she approached his table, she ensured she stopped at a distance and stood alert. She was indeed ready for whatever he had planned.

"Good morning, sir. You asked to see me," she spoke with as much politeness as she could.

Mr Albert stared at her through his thick, ugly frames. It was like he was out to make her feel uncomfortable. "Morning. I'll cut to the chase. You're being transferred to our Abeokuta branch starting from next week. You can get all the necessary documents from HR before you leave. That will be all."

Fola stood shocked. Of all the things she had thought he was going to do, transferring her to another branch hadn't even crossed her mind.

"B-b-but, sir. Why am I being transferred all of a sudden? I'm still working on some of our projects that need to be done before the end of the month. Besides, I wasn't informed that transfers happen just like that before I took on-"

"So?" Mr Albert cut in. "And I'm also sure that you know that whatever you say won't change my decision. What can you do that the others can't? Miss Omena can take your projects." He looked at her with a sneer on his face. It was almost like he expected her to kneel and beg for her position.

"But there are things you can do that may change my mind." He placed more emphasis on 'do' as he ran an inappropriate gaze through her from the crown of her head down to the pointy tips of her navy blue stilettos.

Mr Albert was a good-looking man especially for his age but Fola had learned that the actions of a man are what truly makes him ugly. And at this moment, she could see the ugliness right before her.

Fola stared at him mouth agape as her right hand patted her pocket for the spray. She took a step back and watched as his eyes followed her movements.

With a look of disgust and mockery, he continued. "You're not a small girl o. And I know you're an orphan. How do you plan to live the sophisticated life girls your age are living on such a meagre salary? If you just give in, I will change your life. Your status will become better. You won't even have to slog at work like the others. You'll have everything you need. All this unnecessary S.U you're doing won't get you anywhere in life."

Fola couldn't believe her ears. He was dangling a very enticing bait before her very eyes and just at the moment when she needed a change in her life. The temptation was so strong because she had lived like that before. She had taken such an easy route in her years in the university and the devil was busy reminding her what an easy road it will b, if she would just give in.

She had lost her parents at a young age and had lived at one uncle or aunty's place all through her teenage years till she got into the university. And the moment she got into the university, all her uncles and aunties had washed their hands off her except for her Aunt Fife and her husband, Uncle Wale.

The irony was that the uncles and aunties who could be responsible for her abandoned her, while the ones who had overflowing love for her were just getting by with what they had but still did all they could. She was grateful for them.

It had been hard to see their fiery zeal for God rewarded with childlessness. And every hope that they may even have children ever had been dashed to the ground when her Uncle Wale had had to go through a vasectomy some years back due to a cancerous tumour. Aunt Fife always said she was a blessing to them, the child they never had. Fola had added their childlessness to the long list of things she was angry with God about. She had carried that anger for so long till it became a back-breaking burden to her and she reached a point where she just had to drop it all.

Fola loved them both with all her heart and she had grown up with the heart to be a blessing to them as much as she could be when she had the ability and she had.

She stared at Mr Albert again. It had been difficult getting this job and she had to go through this to keep it? Being a Chemistry student hadn't helped her ambition. She had applied to the university for a slot in Medicine and Surgery but had instead found herself taking the Chemistry course.

She had plodded through giving in to the whims of her lecturers just so she could graduate and when she was done, she had luckily, or should she say favourably, found a job in a food distribution company.

After spending one year under the radar and settling into the pace of having a steady income and life, her boss had suddenly taken an interest in her and began to pester her, making it almost unbearable for her to work in peace. His unrequited interest finally manifested in a confrontation the previous week when he tried to corner her in the office. She had been shaken and expecting a rebuttal but not a transfer to a place she didn't know.

Shaking, she blinked rapidly to stop the welling of tears and whispered to her Father.

Stay strong, daughter. Do not give in. Take the transfer.

But, Abba.

Take it.

Fola shut her eyes. Taking the transfer meant leaving Lagos, the place of many opportunities and a network of connections. It meant starting over again in a land where she knew nobody. It meant building relationships from scratch. It meant she would no longer see her present crush, Williams, every day. She had daydreamed about the start of something new with him for the past few months since he joined the company and he had shown interest too. And now, she had to let that go too. She thought she had left the zone of asking 'God when?' questions as pertained to her career and marital relationship but it seemed she had been plunged back into it.

Starting over. One of the things she dreaded.

From where she was standing, she couldn't see any light. The tunnel was pitch black and there was no end in sight.

I'm a child of the Day.

She shook herself out of the thoughts as she decided that she would trust in her Father. If He was with her, then the darkness will flee.

She looked up and for some reason, she could see that Mr Albert thought she was going to succumb to his offer. He had left his chair and was advancing towards her like a confident predator about to pounce on his prey with short but precise steps.

"Fola, if you just accept this, I will surprise you and show you a sweet life. You won't have to struggle for anything," he was saying.

Fola clenched her fingers. If she was the man before, she would have given in. But she was a changed man and she didn't associate with such. Not anymore.

With a determined stance, even though she was standing in six-inched navy blue stilettos, she spoke up with a calm she was so sure wasn't from her. "I'll take the transfer, sir. I'll speak with Miss Omena and hand over the projects to her. The only thing is that I can't be in Abeokuta next week. I'll need some days to prepare to move."

Her boss stood still as though struck by thunder. "What did you say?"

"I said I will take the transfer, sir. Thank you for the opportunity. May I leave if that's all, sir?"

"Y-yes, you may."

Fola walked with her back still facing the door till she reached the door and sprinted out of his office. She didn't stop till she reached the restroom.

With her heart still beating fast from the cool bravado she just exhibited, she stood in front of the mirror and tears found their way down her face. She had done so much and given so much, but here she was being banished to Abeokuta.

Sweet Holy Spirit...

That was all she could utter. That was all she could do.

But it seemed it was enough as she felt a warmth in the rest room. A warmth that was enough for her to relax and take the step she needed to take.

With measured sniffles, she muttered. Abeokuta, here I come.

**********************************

Hi, guys! The long wait is over. *goes to hide in a corner*