Faith, Discipline, and Destiny
Many years ago, while I was still in school, I went to spend some time at my uncle's house during a break. One afternoon, the sound of drums and singing filled the air. A group of colorful masquerades had entered the neighborhood, and people rushed outside to watch them. Children danced with excitement, adults cheered, and the entire street seemed captivated by the spectacle. Inside the house, however, I remained seated with my books, focused on my studies.
After a while, my uncle came in and looked at me with surprise. Smiling, he asked, “Won't you go outside and see the masquerades?” I respectfully replied with a Yoruba proverb: “The person who will be watched does not go around watching people.” At the time, it was simply a response. But years later, my uncle reminded me of that day and said, “Now people are watching you.”
His words made me reflect deeply. Greatness is rarely achieved by those who spend their lives being spectators. Those whom God intends to place on a hilltop must first surrender themselves to discipline, preparation, and purposeful work. The world celebrates the successful, but few see the sacrifices made behind closed doors.
Today, many people spend countless hours watching others succeed through social media, admiring the achievements of others while neglecting their own God-given assignments. Yet destiny is not fulfilled by observation; it is fulfilled by action. God blesses the work of our hands, not merely the wishes of our hearts.
This truth also applies to our spiritual lives. Some people pray fervently and fast faithfully, but become discouraged when their circumstances do not change. Prayer and fasting are powerful spiritual tools, but they are not substitutes for diligence. They empower effort; they do not replace it.
Think about it this way: if one million is multiplied by zero, the answer remains zero. No matter how great the multiplier, there must first be something to multiply. Prayer provides divine strength, wisdom, favor, and direction, but we must still take the steps God asks us to take.
One of my sons often says: “Pray as though you will not work, and work as though you will not pray.”
What wisdom there is in those words! Faith and diligence are not enemies; they are partners. Even now, by God's grace, I rise before the sun each morning to work. I do not assume that because I spent hours in prayer the night before, I can abandon my responsibilities the next day. Prayer prepares me for the work, and the work gives expression to the faith behind my prayers.
The truth is that God delights in using diligent people. Throughout Scripture, He called shepherds who were tending flocks, fishermen who were casting nets, and builders who were faithfully carrying out their assignments. Heaven partners with those who are willing to labor faithfully. As Hebrews 11:6 reminds us: “He rewards those who diligently seek Him.” Notice that the verse speaks of diligence. God honors persistent faith, committed effort, and unwavering devotion.
So do not settle for being a spectator in life. Do not spend your days merely watching others fulfill their destinies. Seek God wholeheartedly, work faithfully, and develop the gifts He has placed within you. The day will come when the same people you once watched will be among those watching what God has done through your life.
Pray. Work. Persevere. And let God make your life a testimony worth watching.