Feeling down because you have too much on? - 'Ofa Tafa

12/10/07 , by Posted by: admin

Wow! I just had one of those weeks of my life: 28th November - 4th of December (2007). Such time, people refer jokingly in Tongan as, “koe uike ‘oe ngaahi uike”. Everything packed full up to my neck. My program was so, so full and tight. Panic and frustration take over. All ministries that I have some kind of leadership role in had end of year functions; and it was one after another.

Feelings of defeat start crawling up my veins; and considering my age made it worse, and so, constantly I thought of quitting. Ooh yes - quitting was the best solution, I thought. But, then wittedly, I thought of the sad effect that may cause on all these programs if I quit. So I emptied myself of all thoughts and waited quietly for a minute, then, suddenly, the Hand of Grace lifted me up with a voice saying; “Have you forgotten that your involvement with these programs did not happen by chances?  I made them happen for you! And if you know that I made them happen for you; do you think that I did not see these minutes of your life?”

Wow! What an illumination!  Immediately, 2 Timothy  1:7 spoke to me saying, “The Spirit that God has given you does not make you timid, instead, His Spirit fills you with power, love and self Control “.

Without wasting one moment, I said, “Lord I am sorry for my lack of faith.  It is for  my  own funeral that I let these programs strangled me, and place me in my present situation, and it is  because, I lost contact with You; for  without You I can do nothing.  I had been so involved and busy to remember that you have promised in Hebrew 13:6  - you will never ever leave me nor forsake me;  which makes me bold then, and say that You,  my Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. Hold me tighter Lord, and take my load off my shoulder and make it light for me, for you alone know me and my weaknesses, for I am but mere dust. For the sake of your glory and the sake of others, reinstate me to the point where I left you out of my businesses, and let me walk with you once again”.

Instantly,  I felt relieved, and smiles came back to my face, and joy flickers in my heart, while courage leads me on, knowing that God, faithful and true to His promise will not fail me.

I am proud to say that, as soon as I had confessed, pea mo’oni pe ‘etau lea Tonga - “hange ha lolo ‘oku lingi kihe tahi hou”.  A great relief swept all over me. Peace and Joy revived my fainting heart. I said, “Lord, no wonder you say in the Gospel of John chapter 10:10, “... You came so that I might have life and life in its fullness.”

 

Life changing events do not happen by accident. They are not by chance. There is no such thing as chance.  For it was not by chance that Jesus and Pilate met in the hall in Jerusalem.  The 28th - 4th December as mentioned above was not by chance.  To me, they happened to wake me up, to re-focus, and to recall the promises of Jesus in Mathew 11:29 “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads and I will give you rest ...”  Mo’oni e lau ‘a 2 Kolinito 4:6 – 8 - “The God who said, ‘out of darkness the light shall shine!’ is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts to bring us the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the   face of Christ …Yet we who have this spiritual treasure, are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us.  We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair:  there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed. Yep! That is my God! Our God!

Hint, Hint! As we are approaching Christmas, and everyone is hurrying and scurrying to get things ready, you have red how I have learnt my lesson in doing things in my own strength, and my own wisdom leaving out my Omnipresent, Omniscient and omnipotent, Loving God in my activities. Please do not be like me, for I do not want any of my sisters and brothers in the Lord to have the bad experience that I have just had.

Let us prepare to give our Lord and Saviour the best Christmas present we can give Him; our golden heart of glory, heart of praise and appreciation. Remember, His incarnation was not determined by the stars, was not by chance, but by Love.  He was sent by God to earth on a mission.  And His mission is to reconcile us making you and me God’s friends (Corinth. 5: 18-21). 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Mrs 'Ofa Tafa

 

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  • December 20, 2007, 1:48 am - Naki Misa

    Many thanks 'Ofa for the blessings.

    'Oku hange ha'ate sio'ata he lau hifo 'a e ngaahi manava mo e momona fk'otau 'oe vahevahe ni.

    What a timely reminder to slow down, and know that it's our response to His call that is most important rather than trying to pile up quantities of "good deeds".

    Ko e mo'oni 'a e divine appointments 'a e 'eiki, as supposed to "chances" 'o hange koia kuo tau pahia hono ngaue'aki 'i onopooni.

    Fkfeta'i he koe 'Otua 'o e "order", pea 'oku tokamalie mo napangapangamalie 'a e me'a kotoa 'i he fononga 'oku tau fai.

    Merry Christmas 'Ofa, and God's richest blessing to the ministries in Tonga.

    Naki and family