Have FAITH this Christmas and celebrate all that you’re and have and all that you are to become and have.
If one has a speck of faith of a mustard seed, he could move mountains. Mathew 13:31-32
Ever since the pandemic, people have been living a life full of anxiety and the economic situation today hasn’t helped. As we come to the end of the year, and then to the new year, I pray and hope that your faith grows like a mustard seed and that your wishes come true. A tiny mustard seed holds the potential to become the largest of the garden plants.
The purpose of this article is to help you realise that you need faith and it doesn’t matter whether it is faith in God, people, the world, technology. What will keep you going is faith or belief in something.
What is faith?
Faith is hope when all seems lost – Catherine Pulsifer.
The word faith is derived from the Latin word ‘fides’ meaning loyalty, trust or fidelity. Faith means having trust and assurance in something or someone.
Although the word faith is associated with religions like Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, etc. It is not about religion. One could have faith in oneself, in God, in technology, or the world.
Faith can be viewed as the language of the heart. It is what helps us to get through life, paving the way during challenging times. Although faith is closest to belief, it isn’t belief. Faith is based in the heart yet belief is more rooted in the mind.
Life is always full of surprises and we have no control over what will happen next in our lives. When one loses everything, or when one doesn’t see a way out, what is left is faith and trust that whatever is higher than them will take care of the situation and it is always taken care of (see my story at the end).
In the 1988 PBS documentary, Joseph Campbell (legendary scholar of world mythology) and the Power of Myth, when asked whether there was something in common in every culture that creates the need for God, he answered
“Well, I think anyone who has an experience of mystery and awe, knows that there is a dimension, let’s say, of the universe that is not that which is available to his senses … And, I think that’s what it is, it’s the realisation of wonder. And also, the experience of tremendous power, which people, of course, living in the world of nature are experiencing all the time. You know, there is something there that’s much bigger than the human dimension.”
It is that little faith that makes a big change in our lives.
Why we need faith
- Faith gives meaning to life. This is realised whenever things we attach meaning to disappear.
- Faith instills positivity. This allows us to remain hopeful as we trust in that, that is superior.
- Faith is a source of self-belief and confidence. Without faith in ourselves and the ability to trust the decisions we make; we won’t be able to trust ourselves or even the supernatural like God.
- Faith is a source of motivation. It is faith that keeps us going. Faith breeds hope and hope motivates us to live and do what we need to do.
Here is a story of my life to help you understand how a little faith could make wonders for you just like a mustard seed has the potential to become the largest plant in the garden.
Getting a scholarship within a short period of time
In 2002, I wanted to study for my first master’s degree and I was lucky that there was an opportunity for funding (covering tuition) for all teaching staff who had taught for a year at the university and I did qualify for the funding. However, as I started my application, I hit a roadblock. One of the top directors stopped my application and stood firm that the university wasn’t going to pay my tuition. I was devastated sted! I asked my colleagues if they had been stopped, only to be surprised that they hadn’t. I found out that the director’s reason was that I had another job and this meant that I wasn’t full-time teaching staff. This was a new aspect that had just been introduced. The university had employed me whilst working elsewhere and they had confirmed that it was ok for me to continue working. I tried to discuss the issue with her but all in vain even if all the other heads of department didn’t agree with her. What was more devastating is that none of the heads-of-department was willing to stand up to her.
I decided to proceed to the top boss who still agreed with me but refused to counter her argument and told me to wait for another year as she had suggested. I couldn’t believe this. “Why was she doing this to me?” “Why were the heads-of-department unable to stand up to her?” “A policy was a policy.” I thought.
I was distressed but continued to pray and sought other options. I decided to go back to my immediate line manager to discuss my options. My line manager gave me two options.
- To wait and enrol the following year as suggested by the director
- To apply for a scholarship offered by other entities like Embassies.
I decided to apply for the external scholarship and I went for the DAAD scholarship. On starting the application, I realised that there was a very tight deadline – just a week! I needed to start the process immediately. The scholarship was however offering me more than 5 times the university tuition. It was thus worth all my time and energy. I went fully for it. I must admit I found the process a tough grind. There were so many boxes to tick, documents to attach, so many offices to go to and signatures to collect. It was so easier to give up than to keep going with it.
Each day I felt like I was climbing a steep hill. I moved from one office to another with some offices locked up which was frustrating. I however kept going until the very last day. The last part of the application required me to pick up a form from an office on the main campus that was some distance from my University and also ensure that the documents were at the German Embassy by 5 pm. It was a hot Friday afternoon when I headed out to the last office to get the last document. I remember my heart beating fast and my body mixed up with different emotions – the excitement of completing the application and the apprehension of not finding the right person in the office and not meeting the deadline. As we headed out, I wanted my taxi to fly but it couldn’t. I prayed throughout my journey. I finally got there. When I got to the university reception, I was directed to a particular office but also warned that the person I wanted to see, had most likely left for the day. I felt like crying at this point but still headed to the door. As I knocked on the door, my heart stopped when I didn’t hear any response. Then I heard a quiet voice “come in.” I felt a great sense of relief. I got in, introduced myself, and told the lady why I was in front of her.
She then replied, “Sorry this is the wrong office.” Can you imagine what I felt then? I felt like crying. I was frustrated. The time was running out and I was in the wrong office! The lady added to my dilemma when she said that the person, I was looking for must have left for the day. My heart sank and I felt all the blood gush out of my body. It was a hot day and I had been boiling with tension and excitement but not anymore. It was like she had just poured cold water over me. I took a deep breath and decided that it was time to move on. I allowed myself to believe that I had done my best. I thanked the lady and headed for the door. I closed her office door quietly in despair as I thought about the deadline which was then in an hour. I thought about the options I was left with. As I released the doorknob and turned around I saw a familiar face in the corner of my eye. It was Denis. Denis was a work colleague at my current university and had worked at this university before. He saw my distressed face and asked what the matter was and what I was doing there. I briefed him and when I mentioned the name of the lady I needed to see. He stopped me and replied, “ No, she is still in her office.” “She hasn’t left yet and I know her” “ Let me take you.” “I have just been in her office.” I was in disbelief. So many questions went through my head. “Could this be possible?” “Did Denis hear me right?” “Is he talking about the same person?”
He took me to the office and I met with the person concerned. She filled in the form and signed it. I thanked her and Denis and then rushed to the embassy. I was still in disbelief about this miracle but continued with my journey. There was no time. It was tension again. I had solved one aspect to get to another. The journey to the embassy was full of tension. “Would I make it?” “What would I do if I didn’t?” These were some of the questions that were going through my head. I tried not to look at my watch as if my look would change the time. I held on to my faith as I continued to pray. There was little chance that it could happen. It was 5:00 pm! I was at the embassy just before closing. I rushed to the gate and then to the office. I was panting and sweating. When I handed in the documents, I felt like I had won the Olympic gold medal even if I hadn’t gotten the scholarship yet. I was just over the moon and so grateful to everyone and everything that made this possible. I had never been through so much tension for so long. However, the joy and feeling of triumph at this point was beyond anything I had experienced before.
It was a moment that I will never forget. The moment when I saw Denis in the corner of my eye in the university corridor as I turned the doorknob in despair. The moment when Denis said
“No, she is still in her office.” That moment is so surreal. I got a scholarship that not only covered my tuition but also my research expenses, housing, health insurance, books, and living expenses. My colleagues couldn’t believe how things turned out.
The moral of the story is to have a little faith in whatever you choose to have faith in and your wishes will come true.
My faith is in God my creator. Who do you have faith in?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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About Stella Olivia Kikoyo
With a track record of over 20 years in marketing and business management both as an educator and businesswoman, Stella Olivia Kikoyo helps organisations, teams, and individuals enhance their personal and professional performance through coaching, training, and consultations. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of Stellar Woman Magazine, a global digital publication that women turn to for inspiring success stories, growth strategies, and actionable career tips, all sourced from incredible women from across the globe. She’s also the founder and team leader of the IWAW Club (Inspiring Women for Aspiring Women), a safe space for women who aspire to inspire other women to grow personally and professionally. She’s a Chartered Marketer, a Fellow of HE UK, a strategic intervention life and business coach, a trainer, a CIM facilitator, and a senior lecturer at London Metropolitan University.
Bel article, je l’ai partagé avec mes amis.