The Perfect Love of God

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning, great is thy faithfulness O Lord”. Lamentations 3:22-23

This is my story of overcoming by the power of his love, even as I begin to see and understand that God is saying something to our generation; and doing something in the world-

There were many words that were said to me in 2007, but perhaps one that would remain closest to my heart is very late last year when my Mother said “Don’t worry, as long as you have that ticket…just get on the plane and come home”. Suddenly I was at peace; and grateful for a mothers unique ability to say the right thing at precisely the right time.

To put that sentence into context, last year was big, massive, and gigantic in terms of the impact that God made in my life. I’d entered the year full of uncertainty and in need of spiritual as well as material direction. God didn’t waste any time because by February 2007 the very foundations in my life were being reengineered to the glory of God. All of this to the reality that I would be forever changed by the mighty hand of God. You see, in the year of our lord 2007 I met so many wonderful people, did so many wonderful things in the name of God – Things that caused me to shake physically as I grasped for the faith required to act in faith. I had intimate moments with God. I fell short of his glory but he was always there to pick me up. By his grace I overcame obstacles that in previous years had left me crippled (The difference is clear when you do it with God).

So as you can imagine, as this particular year came to an end I was aware of the perfect love of God: I’d seen it; I’d lived in it. But one of the truths that we as Christians must acquaint ourselves with (Because if we do not the world surely will), is that the glory of God in your life does not mean an absence of problems. No, sometimes it necessitates an abundance of problems; it is the overcoming of problems in the name of Jesus. Oh, that it may be true for you that “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. “ 2nd Corinthian 12:9

It is the drinking from a cup and the carrying of a cross. My friend, before Jesus went to suffer and die for our sins the bible tells us of how much pressure he was under. These were his words: Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt”. Mark 14:36

When God changes our lives and we begin to embody the fruits of the spirit we drink from a spiritual cup. But with that drinking comes trials, obstacles aimed by the devil to bring you down; allowed by God to lift you up.

And so as 2007 came to an end I was struggling with many issues in my life. One of these issues was my lease that was to expire on January 31st. I had asked my Landlady if she would extend my lease for one more month since I would be returning from my trip to Nigeria in the middle of January, leaving only 2 weeks to find and move into a new place. At first she’d agreed, a few days later she refused telling me to either sign a new lease with her or move out on January 31st. In faith I told her I would move. At the time I did not know where I would find the time, finances and other resources to do this in 2 weeks but I knew that God had called me to leave that place- A place in which he had worked many wonders in my life. God was setting the stage for the infusion of his perfect love.

I was also dealing with issues relating to money and issues with school. And so amidst all of this my mother said “Don’t worry, as long as you have that ticket…just get on the plane and come home”.

You see God gave me a vision of a bridge he was building in my life from here to Nigeria; this trip back home was to be the first crossing of that bridge. But I’d always thought the initial crossing would be a triumphant one. After 10 years away from home, surely I would go back with all of the pomp and circumstance befitting one gone so long. On the contrary, I was running home as fast as my legs could carry me. I had the ticket, I got on the plane, and I went home to see the love of God.

God's Love in Nigeria:


There were pillars of wood holding up concrete and blocks as it was evidenced that the structure surrounding me was still very much in construction; but standing there, seeing the blocks, the altar, where the congregation would sit I began to realize that the glory of God was in this place.

The name of the Church is House on the Rock. It is my Sister’s Church and this particular arm of the Church is located in a city called Enugu. We’d stopped by to pick up my sister and I started talking to members of the Church and their story was a powerful one. The structure I was seeing taking shape had been completely funded by the congregation and donations from various people. At a point when they were low on Finances, everyday members of the Church began arriving at the premises after work to do the work that they could not afford laborers to do. Women were carrying blocks; men from work were loosening their ties and taking off their jackets to mix cement. Young people were giving up what young people do to physically do the work of God. All of these people said “We may not have all of the money to give, but we will give what we have”. To hear and see people of God making these enormous sacrifices was humbling as I longed to be a part of it. All of these wonderful people are doing these things for the love of God that is alight in their lives. I know that God will continue to lift them up as he completes this good work he has begun in that place.

This experience is just one highlight of the wonderful things that God made me see on this trip. I have an essay titled – “My Nigeria” that summarizes some of my thoughts on Nigeria. If you are interested in reading it just send me an email at: wendu.nwakanma@yahoo.com

One of the great reminders on my trip back home is that in Nigeria the doctrine is indoctrinated in the lives of the people. It doesn’t mean that everyone is born again, but it means that a lot of people know the basics about Jesus because there is a strong Christian culture. This was brought home to me the other week when a Nigerian classmate was telling me how his company Chevron brought him to California, and then sent him to Rutgers Business School for 2 years to get an MBA. I asked him how he managed to find himself in a great situation like that. And he said to me “Na God now”. (In plain English Of course it is God). I started to smile because I knew that to be a typical Nigerian response. And so In a country, and even a continent (Africa) where God is given glory for everything, he will do great things. I even look at current events, and see the son of an African (Barack Obama) going as far as any black person has ever gone in American politics and I begin to understand that times are changing, things are not the same, and God is doing something in this day and age, and even back home. I came back with a sense of anticipation and determination to be a part of it by his grace.

The Return

An hour away from landing, God asked me to stop whatever I was doing and read my bible. He led me to Joshua Chapter 1. In this Chapter, after the death of Moses God spoke to Joshua saying “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel”. Joshua 1:2

God was giving Joshua instructions on what he would do even as he crosses over into this new land. Go also told him “Only be thou strong and courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee, turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest”. Joshua 1:7

God knew all of those obstacles that waited for me upon my return. He was telling me to be strong and courageous. He was asking me to continue in his way, not straying to left or to the right that I will prosper in everything I do.

The hand of God was upon me as all of these obstacles melted away. I found a new place within days of coming back and I moved in successfully. And through all of this my confidence in the lord has been greatly multiplied, as I always recall that he has charged me to be strong and courageous. I am at peace in him as his word continues to be a lamp unto my feet.

Brothers and Sisters God Is love. That is the essence of his character, who he is, and what he wants to share with you. Later this week on February 14th many will tell their loved ones how much they are loved, and rightly so. But in in the words of our Lord “Thou shalt love the lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and will all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” Matthew 22:37-38

Let us not wait until the 14th or until it is too late. Let us tell God now how much we love him. He has done so much for us. He gave us our lord Jesus Christ, the morning star. He puts the sun in the sky every morning as a wonderful expression of his brilliant, radiant and constant love for us.

Sometime last week....in close proximity to a winding pier by the Hudson River overlooking Manhattan, I saw the golden sunrise at its highest point as my heart agreed that God is good.