By Funmi Komolafe

Brethren, God is faithful.  He never disappoints.  As the Psalmist wrote, he neither  slumbers nor sleeps.   When we think that answers to our prayers are not forthcoming, it actually means God is working out something special for us.

In this season,   God will give you a miracle that will advertise his glory in your life in Jesus name.

I’m so filled with joy writing today’s article. Why?  Within a week I  saw the manifestation of his awesome powers for  couples believing him for the fruits of the womb. It is a further assurance that   no one’s case is impossible with God.

You may have heard about this but I’ll repeat the story of  Dr. Edet Ekpo and his wife,  Esther, who were blessed with a set of quintuplets; three boys and two girls after 10 years of waiting.

Have you asked yourself, why would a doctor, so knowledgeable in science be on the waiting list for a decade to have children?  Don’t you imagine that all his knowledge and that of his colleagues would have been put to use yet no child came.

The answer is found in Psalms 127 vs. 3 “ Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward”.

God is far above science or herbs. God is not limited. He blesses at his own time and no human being, no witchcraft spirit can stop him when he decides to manifest his power.

Let’s imagine what the couple must have gone through.   Her mockers must have called Sister Esther ‘a man’.    Can you imagine   how Dr. Ekpo felt consulting for children and their parents?    These are feelings that can hardly be shared with anyone.   Even in the hospital where he worked   some people would have mocked him.  His story would have been Mr. Physician heal thyself.    Relations   would have advised him to take another wife .   His wife too could have been advised to dump her husband   for ‘incompatibility “.

These are   the kind of things that go on in our society.

I can go on and on trying to imagine the pains of waiting to have children.  Brethren, waiting to have biological children is a long   and tortuous   journey  but with God on your side, your victory is certain.

However, as often stated in this column,  you have your part to play and God has his to play.

We’ll   take one or two lessons from  Dr. Ekpo as stated in  his interview with Sunday Vanguard last week . He told the reporter, “  I was ordained a Pastor in my former church 15 years ago where I also served as music director and so, with that faith , I knew  that one day we would have a baby to make our joy complete as a family”.

The lesson for us here is that even as a medical doctor with his tight schedule, he found time to work for God.  By working for God , he was sowing seeds.

Secondly, he never lost faith.  In other words, he and his wife remained expectant.  Thirdly, he did not resort to human efforts like taking another wife to have children.  Finally, he chose to remain with the Lord   who has promised him children.  You will recall that in one of the previous  editions of Joyful homes, I made the point that we   need to get busy with God.

Dr. and Mrs. Ekpo  have lived their life in conformity with the word of God . How do I know? My evidence is found in  Psalms 128 vs. 1-3 “  Blessed is everyone  that feareth  the Lord;  that walketh in his ways.  For thou shalt  eat the labour of thine hands: happy shall thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table”.

Are you still thinking that the five babies   were born as a result of fertility drugs used by the doctor and his wife?   If these are your thoughts, then you must ask yourself, why did it take 10 years for the drugs to   produce children?  Let me know when you find the answer .

Meanwhile, let’s   consider, Ist Corinthians 3 vs.6 (International  Standard Version of the Holy Bible) .  It states : I planted, Apollos watered, but God kept everything growing”.

Dr.  Ekpo and his wife planted, the fertility medication watered but God kept everything growing”.  This is my answer.

How long have you been waiting?  How many  times  have you had to cope with the disappointment of science.  Be assured , God has not forgotten you and with him, there is no failure or disappointment.

As we reflect on the birth of these special children, let’s bear in mind the word of God as written in Romans 9 vs. 16 ,(New International Version) “  It does not therefore depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy”.

Romans 9 vs. 15 and 16 (New King James Version,  )“For he saith to Moses , I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then  it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy”.

This is a confirmation that human efforts may be fruitless but  God that makes us fruitful.

Do you still have doubts?  Read Dr. Ekpo in testimony, “ We were  planning for one baby at a time or three at most but five came at the same time.  Now, we have got more than we prayed for….”.

The arrival of the   babies is simply the manifestation of the awesome power of God.

Though, he says, he is feeling the bite because of the economic condition, but may I ask,  which is better ? To feel the bite of having to feed your children,  or to have no   child   to feed at all.  I am sure he will prefer to feed  the five.

By the Grace of the Almighty God, Jehovah El-Shaddai, the babies will never go hungry in Jesus name. God that gave   them to the couple will provide for them. These are special children.

My advice is that couples waiting on the Lord can sow into the lives of these children and God   will visit them too.

I remember that many years ago, while I was waiting on the Lord, I was invited to RCCG Holy Ghost night during which Pastor Adeboye preached a sermon  in which he said, “ Special children come from closed wombs”.   He cited, Isaac and Joseph  as some of those special children

In other   words, he told women on the waiting list to keep faith and  be hopeful.

Are the quintuplets not special children?  They were the first in the history of Cross River State and in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

As we reflect on the birth of these special children, let’s bear in mind the word of God as written in Romans 9 vs. 16 ,  (New International Version )“  It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy”.

Brethren, keep faith with God, play your part diligently and allow God to give you rest from all your troubles.

By the grace of God, in this year, the Lord will help you and you will  sing a new song in the name of Jesus.

I’ll end this edition of Joyful homes with a message of congratulations to  Dr.  & Mrs.  Edet Ekpo  and Mr & Mrs.  Bukola K.  of U.B.A  who were blessed with a set of twins; a boy and a girl  last week.

The twins are  their  first children. By the mercy of God, a regular reader of Joyful homes will have an amazing testimony this year in Jesus name.