Last month, I traveled to a place that I never dreamed of going: Nigeria.

Africa may have been in the back of my mind as a place to visit. In the past, I was more excited and intent on traveling to Guadeloupe than Africa. But somehow, some way, for wonderful purposes that are all his own, God led me to Nigeria. 

My reason for traveling there was simple. To see my friend who I’d spent all of 2021 getting to know. (Spoiler alert: he’s now my wonderful, amazing boyfriend)

Everyone didn’t agree with me going. Aside from having my own doubts and fears (does God really want me to go? Am I doing the right thing?) I was also met with well-intentioned ,but not encouraging, cautionary words from different people in my life. Those cautionary words were wise but didn’t help the fear and doubt that I was already feeling. 

However, the thing about God’s plans for our lives is that he lets us experience life. He doesn’t coddle us or protect us from every little challenge or obstacle.

So although the cautionary tales were frustrating, the visa process less than straight-forward, the cost high, and COVID still happening, God still orchestrated the trip. 

(Here’s a good place to pause for a little English teacher vocabulary moment.)

Orchestrate: arrange or direct the elements of (a situation) to produce a desired effect, especially surreptitiously:

Love that word: surreptitiously. It means stealthily. 

God stealthily arranges events in our lives because it helps our faith as Christians. At least I know that was the case for me with my trip to Nigeria and even in building the relationship with my boyfriend. I didn’t (and most of the time I don’t) know what God was doing, but I am learning to trust even when I don’t know what’s happening because I can trust who I do know. 

I know God, so I can trust His hand. 

I traveled to Nigeria alone. That in and of itself is God’s work. Now, in my nature I am a fearful, timid, catastrophic, over-thinker. (You wouldn’t know it outwardly at first, but yes, that is my nature). Jesus helps me to take risks because he is teaching me that he is always with me, no matter what. 

On this trip, I had to get out of my comfort zone continually. 

I built an alliance with a blind man. God used this alliance to encourage me. This man was traveling from the US to Nigeria alone with only his phone as his connection to loved ones. His boldness inspired me. I thought to myself, “if he could travel this far by himself with no eyesight, surely I could do the same.” Our temporary friendship resulted in me passing swiftly through the Murtala Muhammad airport, since I was helping to escort my blind friend. 

Another uncomfortable thing I did was spent more time than normal with just men. I have four sisters and a lot of girlfriends. I’m not completely used to spending that much time with just the guys. In my mind they’re rough, emotionally unintelligent, and don’t know how to provide emotional support. But I was wrong.

I didn’t have deep heart to heart conversations with my boyfriend’s friends, but we connected about life. God used my time with the guys to help me be courageous by focusing more on action than my feelings. I had to get into a canoe with flowy pants and sandals on. I had to pee in a hut. I took a covid test in the back seat of a car! More than that, with the guys, I was able to focus on simpler things and conversations. Nothing was complicated with them and we laughed a lot.

I also had the opportunity to offer some feminine perspective on a particular situation with one of my boyfriend’s friends. (Which we all know is needed ^_^) And I felt safe. They treated me like a precious jewel. Being around them helped me appreciate the strength and protection that good men provide.

Another fear to overcome was I started a new relationship. Albeit we had built a solid friendship, but any new relationship still requires risk—especially a long-distance one. God allowed me to spend time with my boyfriend in different capacities. We spent time alone having vulnerable talks, dancing, cooking, and shopping. All of which provided us the opportunity to observe each other in different spheres. We spent time with our peers and also with our elders. Each experience provided insight, warmth, and perspective and as such were a blessing to me and gave me more confidence in who he is as a person. 

I had to be confident in Nigeria. In a very real sense, it was me and my God while I was there.  I was in a new environment with spiritual family (my church has a sister church in Nigeria that I am connected to) but I had to be confident enough to be myself on my own while I was over there. 

I took several leaps of faith and God was my landing board each time. 

The trip wasn’t perfect. There was a point where we were pulled over by Nigerian police which was very scary for me because they were not kind. I didn’t know how the situation would turn out. As we were waiting to see what would happen, I felt frightened but I prayed and God persuaded me to rely on him.

I did and everything turned out fine. I believe he even used that situation to help me to see my boyfriend’s character and how he handles himself under pressure, which gave me even more confidence in him. Most importantly, it helped me to see just how in control God is and how he sees every detail in my life and is involved in every moment. 

My job is to strive by faith to perceive his hand moment by moment so that I’m hip to his stealth. 

How can you be more cognizant of God’s stealthy hand?

Love and Light,

Kourtney Naomi