THANK GOD FOR BREAKING MY IDOLS

GODSWILL OKONOFUA

“I can’t let her go! I just can’t! Please, I need her. How can I continue my life without her?” I shouted, desperation filling my voice.

The thought of letting Debby leave was heartbreaking. We had been inseparable since childhood, and I had grown so fond of her over the years. Why was God suddenly asking me to end this beautiful friendship? I could part with every possession in this world, yet there was one thing I would never relinquish: Debby. She was irreplaceable to me.

Now I’m grateful God saw what I couldn’t see then.

Debby had been my best friend for as long as I could remember. She was beautiful, confident, and always smiling. Debby possessed the gentlest heart I had ever encountered. She never judged me and was always ready to listen. I was the sanguine, outgoing one, while she was reserved and understanding. Our friendship seemed picture-perfect.

Deep down, I knew that while I had found a great friend in Debby, I had found an even greater friend in Jesus. But staying close to Debby was costing me my relationship with Him. Neither of us could go a day without the other. If I told her I no longer wanted this friendship, she would be devastated. I couldn’t bear to see Debby cry.

During high school, Debby lost her father. Grief led her to question God’s existence. She read extensively and concluded that God didn’t exist. Instead of thinking critically, I simply followed her belief. If my brilliant friend believed there was no God, then it must be true.

I continued following her beliefs until our first year in university, where I encountered Jesus personally. I tried convincing Debby that what was missing from her life was a relationship with Him, but she refused. Despite our differences, we continued choosing each other, agreeing not to discuss faith matters.

I’m thankful God never gave up on me during those years of spiritual compromise.

I sought counsel from my mentor. Through bitter tears, I explained everything to her. God was asking me to let Debby go.

She patted me on the back and spoke softly: “This part of your journey with God requires you to let her go. If anyone wants to be His disciple, they must deny themselves, forsake what hinders them, and follow Him. Ask God to give you a heart that loves Him more than anything else. This is a call to deepen your relationship with Him. What fellowship does light have with darkness?”

Her words struck a chord in my heart. I realized I had loved Debby more than I loved the Lord. I remembered times when I skipped prayer to please her, when I chose not to share the Gospel because she dismissed it as foolishness. I had valued her opinion over God’s voice.

I slid to the floor of my mentor’s office and started sobbing. I prayed from my heart: “I say yes to You, Lord. I choose to surrender my friendship with Debby. I don’t have the strength, but give me Your grace. Take my heart and mould it for Your glory.”

A surge of courage came upon me. I was ready to take action. My mentor smiled her encouragement as I set my face like a flint, thanked her, and left.

—-

A week has passed since I ended my relationship with my best friend. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary and worth it. I am experiencing new levels of growth in God that I never imagined possible. I even feel more empowered to pray for Debby and other antitheists like her.

I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s patience with me. He could have left me in my spiritual compromise, but He loved me too much to let me settle. I’m thankful He gave me strength when I had none, wisdom through my mentor, and courage to obey.

Today, I’m grateful for the painful mercy that freed me from idolatry. God has filled the void Debby left with deeper intimacy with Him. I’ve discovered that nothing in this world compares to the joy of wholehearted devotion to Christ.

I’m sharing this to encourage you: let go of whatever you hold more dearly than your friendship with Jesus. God’s love is worth every sacrifice.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15 NKJV)

©Godswill Okonofua