Expert Communicator? 🤔

What would you describe as the best form of communication? Who’s that person in your life that has earned your respect with how well they communicate.

For me, it would be none other than my Abba. See guys! I absolutely love how God speaks and how He listens. Such an expert communicator! 🔥

God speaks.

A number of Lagosians must have struggled to get public transport today, no thanks to the looming fuel scarcity. Well, just add me to the number of people who struggled for bus today. Jesus, I no want this kain struggle o… 😩 But omo, a girl literally had to be on street mode for the most of today. Street mode basically requires your wit, speed, intuition, smartness, attention to detail, and speed again. 😪 We thank God for life.

I got into a bus on my first try. Wait! Does it seem like I’m gloating about being street smart? 😂 God abeg! Na soft life I want o.

Back to my story, I’d settled by the extreme edge on the first row of the danfo bus, and boy was I uncomfortable. I had to plead with the other passengers to adjust so I could sit comfortably. My plea fell on deaf ears, or perhaps adamant ones, as the lady at the other extreme retorted. As far as she was concerned, there was no space. I tried to understand her because I know how Lagos buses can be, but I really wasn’t comfortable. So I pleaded again that she’d try adjusting just so I could get even if it were a little space. Her next words left me dazed though.

“There’s no space. Let her go to the back.” The words she threw at the woman who sat directly beside me and had been kind to support my plea.

Aunty, haba!

I mean, there’s a rush for buses which means the bus is full at this time. But even though, even though… Wasn’t a human being supposed to sit where I had sat? I had to ask her this because I was dazed at her cold reply. I ignored her though after the woman beside me signaled me to.

To support myself and seek better comfort, I had to resort to using my right hand to grab the door railings while my left hand held on to the metallic slab directly in front of me. We journeyed and as we sat pretty in traffic, the conductor who had been hanging by the door entrance dropped off and went to hang at the back of the bus instead.

Source: TheFamousNaija

Recall that I had my hands by the railings all these time. Also note that the door was open which meant if anyone chose to close the door of the bus for whatever reason, it would become necessary that I remove my hands from the railings. I’m trying to be super descriptive here especially for those who are unfamiliar with Lagos danfo buses.

Somewhere along the line as we moved, I sensed the Holy Spirit strongly ask me to remove my hands from the railings and move them within the bus instead. In fact, it was a clear nudge that confidently affirmed that the door would slam shut. There was traffic though, and with how slow we moved, it made no logical sense that the door would do that. I obeyed however and kept my hands within the bus, holding onto the frame in front of me with my two hands as the driver moved the bus. It was largely uncomfortable but the instruction was clear and I had to obey. I also felt bad because I couldn’t catch up with my Bible reading during the bus trip, no thanks to the sitting position. I was lost in thoughts when the screeching of the brakes, accompanied by the yelling of other passengers jolted me back to reality. Our driver in a bid to overtake another vehicle had swivelled to the edge of the bridge and had almost rammed into the vehicle in front of us. In the split seconds when we had this close shave and commotion, the door had slammed greatly due to the force with which the driver had applied the brakes.

I didn’t realise what was happening until the Holy Spirit brought it to my attention.

God’s faithfulness and by His mercies, my obedience, had saved my right hand from getting severely hurt in that incident. In that moment I turned slowly to the window, and as I stared at the ocean, I mouthed a “thank you God!”

God speaks — through His word, and through His Spirit.

If it feels like He’s not speaking, I can promise you that He does. Look through the details of your day and life. Get into His word. Stay receptive to His Spirit and you’d see for yourself. God speaks! May we be discerning and sensitive to Him. Even better, may we receive grace to obey as He speaks. Amen.

The same God who speaks also listens. I’d share a story on this in the second part of this series. Check back Wednesday by 7pm. Have a blessed week. Enjoy Jesus!

Love, Stephanie Ugbor. ❤️