I have mentioned once in my personal blog that I desire to attend Bible school. That was years ago. I herein tell God's story of His faithfulness to His promise and to His calling.
About two months after accepting Christ as my Lord and Savior, I was driving to school with my dad and I fell asleep. In my dream I saw this: "Matthew 4:20." I was of course far from being well versed with the Bible then, so I looked it up as soon as I had the chance to. The verse says "And they straightway left their nets, and followed him" (the context was that Jesus called Peter and Andrew to be His disciples). I did not get it, because I was expecting it would be "Fear not" or "The Lord sees your deeds" or so. I could not fathom why the verse turns out to be saying only that two fishermen left their nets and followed Jesus. Months passed by and I realized that it was a calling from God. I saw that I desire to devote my entire time serving in the church, and I cannot find joy doing what I was doing back then (I was pursuing a degree in Statistics). Besides that, I understood that that was the first time in my life that I actually had a dream profession for myself. As a kid, I did not have those ambitions of becoming a doctor or a lawyer or what when I grow up. I really had nothing in mind. That was the first time that I actually had an I-want-to-be.
Of course I was too young in the faith, I thought, so I had to clarify it to God for some time because I was thinking that I do not want to go through this just because I wanted it. I wanted to pursue this because God wanted it. By the end of my first year on college, I told my parents about it. Though my parents were themselves believers, they did not want me to attend the Bible school. For some reason, they wanted me to finish a secular course first, then go be a pastor afterwards. That whole summer was a period of heavy drama for me, with all the begging for my parents' approval and their insistent rejection. Finally, God tells me that I must honor my parents so I decided to go on with Statistics. I actually thank God right now that He so wisely made me spend another year waiting for His timing, because if anything good happened during my second year in college, it was that God taught me so many things and I really grew in faith. It still holds true, though, that where God calls us is where we will be no matter what happens.
January of that second school year, I attended a church service where the people get anointed with oil for consecration. Through most of the service, it came through me as a normal Sunday activity. When we got to the anointing, though, I just felt God pour out His blessing and really confirm to me that He is calling me into full time service. What happened inside of me and between me and God during that time will most likely take me another long post, so I will have to skip that for now. The thing is, it was confirmed to me that time that God is calling me.
Months after that, the school year comes to a close. One night, as I worship God, He tells me that His timing is coming near. Of course that made me very happy. Here is the thing: I had to drop Statistics then because it was not working anymore (I am honestly not good with numbers). That being, I had to shift to another course. I was still considering what my parents want, so I planned to shift to Film (although I was wishing they'd finally let me attend Bible school). I applied for shifting, I took an exam, went through an interview, waited for days. The results came out and I did not make the cut. I had nowhere to go. The shifting for any other course was already closed then, so it was either I attend Bible school or I stop going to school for a year then try again the next year. I tried to tell my parents (again) about my Bible school plans and to my dismay they still don't approve.
I ran to my room crying that morning, and I asked God why He'd call me and not really do anything about it. God had one message: Be still. I settled my thoughts and my feelings, and I trusted that God was still in control. I was, during those times, sitting on my bed beside my laptop. For some reason, God leads me to checking my Facebook news feed (I love God for being ever surprising). I did check the news feed, and I came across a post from Chris Tomlin's page. It says something like not your friends or your family or anything else can tell you who you will be; only God has your future in His hands. Naturally, my soul bowed before God. That very moment, I was reminded of every promise God had for me regarding His calling – everything since He first called me.
Some weeks after that, one night, after hours of crying and interrogation, my parents finally allowed me to attend Bible school. The events that transpired that night will most probably be in a separate post, as that night in itself has important things about it. For now, this is what I want to declare: God is faithful to His promises. He has called me, and He has promised to lead me to the end of this, and so far He has been true to His words. I still look back to the things God proved to me during my time of waiting when I find myself struggling with hardships of being a Bible student. I remind myself that God has called me into this, and He will be faithful to finish His work in me, as He was faithful to get me where I am right now. God will never break His promises. He is an ever faithful God.
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