Lol. I got to the exam hall late today. Why was I late? I was late because I was busy obsessing over the theme of this blog. I was busy trying out, customizing and jumping from one theme to another. (Blog wey no dey run away? Ment? It’s the audacity for me sha.)

I got to the exam hall and there was no more space so the supervisor told me to go to the next exam room; room 71. I started running around in search of room 71 and nobody seemed to know where it was. After running around like a headless chicken for some five to ten minutes, I found the room and guess what? It was full too. (Stir fry wahala.)

The lecturer was using another class but nobody in room 71 knew what class he was using so I went back to running around again. Luckily for my neck, I met the lecturer on the way to wherever I was going and he took me to the new hall; room 40. Less than an hour later I was done with a two hours paper. (Wo, alubarika loju. No be by first to finish.)

I went back to room 71 to sign out and everyone was like “ah” because I came late and still finished first. Lol. I sat at the faculty quadrangle to wait for my friends. Then the Holy Spirit started talking because apparently, I needed some talking to. All he said can be summarized in these few words: don’t worry is not the same as don’t try. We worry when we obsess over negative outcomes. We try when we make efforts to ensure positive outcomes.

I remember when I was preparing for my two big education exams. I kept complaining that I didn’t know what to read and the calculations were too many but the Holy Spirit kept saying: try. I tried by reading the materials I had. I also solved the available past questions. It gladdens my heart to announce that the exams were significantly amazing. (The exams be like feem.)

I like to think I’m intelligent. Hence, I just personality and bullshit my way through life instead of actually putting in effort. I can get away with this because I have an innate understanding of a wide range of things but sometimes, I feel like a fraud. However, I’m not-so-bothered about this “fraudulent” behavior because someway somehow people recognize my intelligence and I’m not usually judged by my results even when they’re mediocre. (Bottom line, If I wan run scam, e no go flop.)

I’ve spent a lot of time wondering why I always have to work extra hard for things other people seemingly get on a platter of gold. I think I’m starting to see why now. I’m a complacent and over confident monkey. If overconfidence could reduce a human being’s lifespan, I’d be six feet under by now. (Or maybe I’d be six feet above on ghost duties.)

I’m used to shrugging off things with a flimsy ass “I can do it but what’s the point?.” But now that I see how complacent I’ve been and how detrimental it is to my growth and development, I ask myself: what’s the point of being intelligent if the only time I use it is when I want to brag? What’s the point of being intelligent if I’m not actually intelligent? (Wod. Wod. Wod.)

Now, the Holy Spirit is teaching me to try. To put in efforts. Even if there’s grace, ease and favour, he’s telling me to try still. Even if I don’t have to try, he’s asking me to try still. I mean, if I can get 60% without efforts, would it hurt to add a sprinkle of efforts and push for a 100%? It certainly wouldn’t. Faith without works is dead keeps ringing in my head because Jesus didn’t just teach his disciples to pray, he prayed. Everything he taught and charged them to do, he did while he was on earth. He wasn’t just a man of words, he was a man of action and it’s high time I put my money where my mouth is. (In all areas of my life yes. It’s efforts szn.)

I used to say if God wants me to have it, he’d give it to me. Holy Spirt says try to get it and watch God bless your efforts. The Lord destroyed the walls of Jericho but the children of Israel had to dance around the walls. The Lord won the battle but Gideon and his 300 men had to fight. Efforts. Actions. Doings. It means a lot. A whole lot. It makes all the difference. I look at the Bible and I see that all the people God used were imperfect men who were just genuinely trying their best to please a perfect God and was it enough for God? Looking at how much he stood by them and blessed them, yes. I think their efforts mattered to him.

The Holy Spirit speaks, we listen. That’s doing something. He instructs, we obey. That’s an action. It’s trying. The Lord says I’d go before you. Meaning we have to follow him, we have to go after him. He says I’d strengthen you not I’d do it all for you. God doesn’t take your battles from you. He equips you to fight them.

The Holy Spirit is pulling me out of the terrible grip of laziness and senseless pride. I’m totally happy to follow him. Enough of “I can but what’s the point? (Because what’s not the point? At least let people see my light and glorify my father in heaven because he did a fabulous-tic job creating me.) It’s the season of “I can and I will just because I can.” It’s out with nonchalance and in with intentionality. It’s the season of trying my best and restfully leaving the rest to God. Not worrying yet trying because don’t worry is not the same as don’t try.

So I tell myself: Adejumobi, effort is sexy, apply some. Just try. You don’t have to do too much for starters. Just do something and grow as you go. Actually try. Genuinely try. Wholeheartedly try. I say these to myself and I’m saying it to you too. Tryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Cheers to trying okay.