The Will of God
Dear Esteemed Alumni,
Welcome to the beautiful month of June—the second half of the year beckons with new hope and divine possibilities.
Let me share a short story that reminds us all of the mysterious and powerful workings of God’s will.
There was once a rich man who had a deeply religious driver. This driver firmly believed that everything—whether good or bad—was always “the will of God.” He didn’t hesitate to say this in every situation. One day, while the boss was operating a factory machine, he had an accident that led to a finger being cut off. While consoling him, the driver said as usual, “Oga, it is the will of God.”
This infuriated the boss so much that he immediately fired the driver. As he was walking away, the boss asked sarcastically, “So, is this sacking also the will of God?” And the driver, unshaken, said, “Yes sir, it is.”
Fast forward one month later, on a solo visit to the factory, the boss was kidnapped. He was to be used for ritual sacrifice, but as they examined him, they noticed one of his fingers was missing. According to their tradition, only a complete person could be used. They let him go.
Realizing the role of that accident, he called the driver to thank him—and the driver calmly replied again, “Sir, it is the will of God. If I hadn’t been fired, I would have driven you and I would have been used instead.”
Moral? What we may see as delay, denial, disappointment, or even pain, could be God’s hand at work—protecting, redirecting, and preparing us for something greater.
Though I will not go into the depth of theological explanation, please remember that God’s will comes in three forms:
His Permissive Will
His Persuasive Will
His Perfect Will
Jeremiah 29:11 reassures us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
So, dear alumni, as you step into this new month:
Accept the past
Focus on the present
Pray for the future
This June shall be a better second chapter of the year for you. I am rooting for your success, your growth, and your joy.
With all the love you can ever imagine,
Dr. Arc. Christian Tayo Odefadehan
President, Caleb University Alumni Network