Rebuilding my Work & Finances with Jesus

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. Galatians 6:4 – 5 MSG

1 A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”
2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few.

4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”
5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out.

6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased.

7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” 2 Kings 4:1 – 7 NKJV

For several years, I have held on God’s promises for the fulfilment of this story in my life. In late 2012, as I was preparing to enter 2013, all I desired of the Lord was to become debt free and the Lord told me to write it as a book. So I did. In early 2013, I wrote the book, How to Become Debt Free by Discovering Your Talent – A Seven Steps Model based on the story of the widow in 2 Kings 4:1 – 7 and released it as an e-book. I was hoping this will be the product that will bring in the resources to become debt free. Unknown to me, the Lord was setting me on a journey to experience overflowing fruitfulness that results in financial security, wealth creation and making an impact as a Kingdom Achiever.

Later in 2013, the Lord inspired me with another project – Conference Digest 2013. I ran with it with all my heart and full assurance that the Lord will use it to bring in the resources that are required to turn my story around. Unfortunately, events of life happened, I was denied the reward due from this project, this triggered a mental health challenge in my life.

Nevertheless, I held on to God’s promises from this story and was convinced that if He could do this for this widow; He will repeat it for me too. The book, How to Become Debt Free by Discovering Your Talent – A Seven Steps Model I had written earlier in the year formed the basis for the Talent branding for my business. It led to the development of The Talent Journal Magazine, The Talent Day Book, The Talent University and eventually my business was rebranded The Talent Publishing.

What this process did for me was to open my eyes to the reality that to achieve these goals and rebuild my finances, I need to work hard and smart to develop multiple streams of income.

However, I was experiencing a budget deficit – my income was not covering my expenses; I needed a job to bring in an income to pay the bills and meet our ongoing financial commitments. It was a very tough and challenging situation and this further aggravated my mental health challenge.

A combination of the fact that I have invested a lot of time, scarce resources into the publishing business and my mental health challenge made it a struggle for me to embrace a 9 – 5 job that will demand more time, require reporting to a line manager and take me out of the purpose of God for my life. So the type and nature of jobs I was willing to consider were limited.

I worked as a freelance cleaner and eventually secured work as a freelance social research interviewer. The income wasn’t meeting my expenses and the reality was that devoting more time into it was not going to lead to an appreciable increase in the income generated. Things were looking bleak and demoralising.

In September 2016, the Lord called me into the office of a Pastor; the very last thing I wanted to do. I did all I could to say no but the Lord made it clear, it was part of His journey for my life. I struggled to understand how I was to be effective as a Pastor with an ongoing financial and mental health challenge but the Lord made a demand on my time and life as part of His plan for me. I reluctantly accepted to become a Pastor.

In March 2018, I published the book, Diary of a Coincidental Pastor, Embracing the Divine Appointment in your Disappointments to kickstart the rebranding and rebuilding journey of my business – The Talent Publishing as led by the Lord. In this book, I wrote about the increased workload I had to deliver which made more demand on my time, impacting the only work as a freelance social research interviewer I was doing, limiting the choice of getting another appropriate job and having to defer my plans for a MSc in Science, Technology and Medicine in History.

The Milkman job was demanding but rewarding, it kept me going; I could meet more of my expenses. However, I was still experiencing a budget deficit. I needed another stream of income to support the job. The Lord led me to write about my experience and in December 2019, I published, Diary of a Grateful Milkman – The Power of Gratitude; this publication was initially planned for release in March 2019 but events of life delayed it till December 2019.

Towards the end of 2018, as the demand and impact of the Milkman job was becoming unbearable, I asked the Lord to open another door of opportunity for me to secure an appropriate job that will enable me fulfil my responsibilities as a Pastor, meet my financial commitments and allow me to continue rebuilding my publishing business. I actually took three days annual leave to fast and pray; the Lord graciously opened my eyes to the role of a transport service provider working with ride hailing apps.

I eventually completed the process to register and be licensed as a transport service provider and started in this new role in February 2020; then guess what, the pandemic started in March 2020. So for many months I couldn’t work but miraculously the Lord provided to keep me afloat and in September 2020, the Lord even opened the door for me to resume my plans to study for a MA Science Communication which I successfully completed in October 2021. After my studies, I resumed my work earnestly as a transport service provider which I branded Talent Cars. I was privileged to get featured in Uber & Times Driving, My Life | Flexibility with Benefits 

However, during my MA in Science Communication studies, I had successfully secured a grant for a public engagement with science project –  Elijah, The Tishbite – Let’s Talk About Mental Health which I underestimated the time requirement to deliver. Nevertheless, I was determined to make sure we deliver to safeguard the integrity of the Church, the Project Directors and maintain the trust of our funders.

I worked hard to write the script for the short drama film, secure a group to produce the short drama film, compiled and produced a workbook, planned and organised the inaugural event. Unknown to me, this process was God’s way to bring healing and support me to rebuild my mental health.

1. I knew I was not reckless, I was overstretched; and I was sure God knows all I’ve gone through to make things work in the assignment and place of assignment he has committed into my hands
2. I have learnt that in every disappointment there is a divine appointment

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT

1 Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.

2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

3 If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

6 Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:1 – 6 NIV

And in the process of time, my CV has been rebranded!

And to help me maintain balance, I developed a weekly work schedule. This is a guide to support me in discharging my commitments and it is reviewed and updated as appropriate.

Today, miraculously I’ve moved from a budget deficit to a budget surplus and using sound financial management principles to keep on top of my finances.

With Jesus in the boat of your life, you can rebuild and turnaround your life, faith, family, work, business, finances and health.