IJE starring Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade

Today's Tears

So you wake up an optimist today. This is not your specialty. There's nothing like knowing that you have an opportunity you have worked hard for. It is another phase in your almost stagnant life and dragging yourself out of this mire hole is a thug of war.
What's more ... you feel you are standing on a wobbling stool. The future is not clear. Everything is blurry. The tears start flowing down. What does this all mean? You thought there was a reason for everything. Is this what you had waited all your life for? Haven't we we all been there. Many of us are there now. It could be worse. You could describe your life as shattered glass or completely smashed rocks or rubble.
Wouldn't it be liberating to get away from it all?

For many around the world, escaping to some other country–some land of opportunities, is the solution. I am one of the many. The truth is we always see the grass as greener on the other side, and on many levels it probably is. But I am far away from what I used to call home. The years passed feel like an hour ago. Still, you cannot imagine living in what you see as yesterday. Here, in this "foreign" land is where you belong? Before you know it, you are somewhat confused about your identity. Your efforts don't seem worth anything and words don't go far enough with giving reassuarance. How did Abraham handle being in the foreign land? He was promised blessings. Yet he lived in tents in the midst of these strangers. All he could hold on to were divine promises. He was blessed, but he had to wait to see this. There must have been days he looked to the sky and wondered if he would ever have his promised son, not to talk of being father of many nations, having descendants as sand on the sea shore or as many as the stars. Perhaps he asked himself, "What in the world am I doing here?" Sarah for sure wondered. She even got to the point of wanting to hastily get things done. If they were not going to get a miracle child, they could get him naturally.
What about the foreigner today? A lot has changed since the days of the Old Testament. Immigration today involves papers and legal action. What do you do when you do not seem to be able to get things together? Where is your divine purpose? You feel alone like Abraham...like Joseph. No one understands. They are not the "outsider" like you. It's interesting how going through the pages of Scripture you realize that most of the people that God blessed and used were in foreign lands; from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, from Daniel to Jesus, who is Himself, God. These people were at certain times grieved and wondered about their worth, while living far away.
So what about the Person who led these people to a home long away from home? What about the Person who gave them divine purpose? Who is He to the foreigner? The Old Testament encourages treating the foreigner fairly. He never seems to leave your side though you do not see it. Time and again you hit the wall of troubles that bring frustration and questions. I wondered what purpose He had for my life or if there was any at all, but I am never left completely clueless. There is my divine promise of good plans for me, to prosper me and not to harm me.

So here I am. I woke up today optimistic. The day turned out being discouraging. I was confused. Certainly no one understands. Well, someway somehow we all deal with being the outsider whether it is in dealing with race, popularity, gender, nationality, skin tone, status or any thing else. I did not know how to respond to my discouragement. Dismay, resentment,rebellion...all the emotions were competing to overwhelm my heart. I cried. I also heard,
You keep track of all my sorrows,
You have collected all my tears in Your bottle.
You have recorded each one in Your book.
(Psalm 56:8).
Dear foreigner, your specially tears are seen by Divine loving Eyes. You are not alone.