THE BASTARD

EPISODE 6

 

WRITTEN BY: LIZZY OYEBOLA YAKUBU

 

A number of people talked about and requested for the ‘Does Jesus Care?’ hymn that was featured in episode 5. Watch it below:

 

 

 

EPISODE 6

 

(CLICK HERE FOR EPISODE 5)

 

DAVID

 

The warm water from the shower ran down my body freely.

 

I couldn’t scrub or even raise my hands to wipe the water from entering my nose and eyes. 

 

I sighed for the umpteenth time.

 

“Oh Lord, what do I do to Zoe? What has happened to my wife?” I complained, my heart really heavy. 

 

After the wonderful revival that broke out in the house after Grace’s conversion, it was already too late for us to start driving back home, so we had to stay at the Havana Guest House, still in the Olagunsoyes’ estate.

 

I was particularly so glad that the revival broke out. Additionally, I was so glad that Zoe was at the center of Grace’s conversion. I was glad because I felt that all was settled and that my wife had been revived. 

 

All my hope was dashed as we stepped into our guest room. Zoe looked into my face with tears in her eyes. 

 

“I won’t be able to do this. I won’t” She had said and I couldn’t believe my ears. 

 

I knew she was getting all emotional again, so I held her shoulder, pecked her forehead and led her into the bathroom to have a warm shower. I couldn’t say a word to her because I couldn’t even find the right words. 

 

When she was done, she changed into the nightie that the hostess of the hotel had provided her with and I tucked her into bed. 

 

When I got to the entrance of the door, I turned to look at her. 

 

“Try talking to Blossom tonight” I said and she frowned. 

 

“I just told you that I am not doing it. I am not. Even if Blossom agrees, I am not capable of handling an issue as huge as this” She said and my head ached. 

 

I couldn’t really fathom where and when my wife got her negative spirit. She definitely was not like that when I got married to her. She wasn’t. 

 

“Zoe” I called out firmly and she looked into my eyes, shocked. I rarely called her Zoe. I only did that whenever I needed to drive a point home with her. “Make sure you speak to Blossom tonight. Make sure you convince her to give you the permission to tell her story. That is it!” I said, pressed the button on the bathroom door and entered. 

 

“Lord, give me the wisdom to deal with Zoe. Help me Lord to bring Zee out of her shell, Lord. I don’t know how to do it again. I have tried and tried, Dear Father” I prayed as I started to wear my pyjamas. 

 

After having a sumptuous large feast that was nicknamed dinner with the Olagunsoyes’, we were driven to the guest house, given numerous toiletries, blankets, duvets and night wears. We had nothing to worry about as all was already taken care of. 

 

I sighed again as I remembered Zoe’s last statement. 

 

If Zoe could utter such a statement after the strong revival that had happened, I felt that there was no hope. I felt so discouraged. 

 

“And the poor girl is waiting for her. The fire has already started burning in Grace but my wife is already backing out? Oh no!” I shook my head numerously. 

 

Though my wife could be so gentle and easy-going, I knew how strong-willed she could be. Once she had decided not to do something, she wouldn’t. 

 

If not for the Holy Spirit who had intervened, she probably wouldn’t have even followed the Olagunsoyes when they had asked her for consultation. 

 

“Lord, You know Zoe o. Daddy, please, I report Zoe to You” I said, sulking. I knew that God simply had to help me talk Zoe out of her inferiority complex. I knew God just had to help me reveal to her how much power she possessed in Him!

 

I pressed the door button when I was done and stepped out of the bathroom, muttering prayers under my breath. 

 

She was no longer in bed. She was seated on a cushioned settee, her head bent.

 

 

 

‘Oh Lord!’ I muttered as I went close to her. I sat on the settee with her and lifted her head. Her face was full of tears. Her eyes were bloody and her nose was dripping.

 

“Zee, what is the matter? What did Blossom say?” I asked and she broke further into tears. 

 

“She said yes” She said amidst her tears and I shook my head. 

 

“Shouldn’t you be happy that she agreed? Why are you sad?” I asked. 

 

“I had prayed that she would say no but she said yes” She said like a child and I shook my head, stood up and walked to the gigantic, orthopedic bed. I sat down. 

 

“Zoe, please, can you tell me what the problem is exactly?”I asked, trying to be calm. 

 

“Dee, you won’t understand. You are so bold, confident and outspoken. You won’t understand my struggles” She said and I shook my head. 

 

“I thought you were bold, confident and outspoken too, Zoe” I said and she started crying again. 

 

“I am not. I am weak, I am powerless, I am a nobody. I am still a work in progress” She said and I shook my head. 

 

“Zoe, what has happened to you? Where did this inferiority complex come from? When did it come?” I asked as calmly as I could. “You were not like this when I married you. Has marriage changed you? Has childbirth changed you? Have I been a bad influence on you? Am I that bad?” I asked and she burst out into tears. 

 

“Never! You are the best. You bring out the best in me. You are…”

 

“Zoe, stop saying I bring out the best in you. What best have I brought out in you? How can you be professionally capable, academically sound but you see yourself as worthless spiritually? Why?”

 

“God has not called me, Dave. God has not told me He wants me to do His Work” She said and I looked at her bewildered. 

 

“Zoe! Ephesians 2:10 says ‘For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.’ That is the Will of God for us. Once He has saved us, He has called us. Whatever way He wants to use us may differ but we definitely have things to do. Zoe, have you not been working for God before I got married to you? Have you not? How can you say God has not called you? See, Zoe, stop deceiving yourself. No one is asking you to go to the pulpit and preach. You are to come into this household, be in the room with Grace and counsel her. Share Blossom’s story, which shouldn’t take you a day or two…” I was saying when she cut in. 

 

“That is the problem. Why did I even mention Blossom’s story? Why?” She started crying again.  I bent my head in confusion. “How can the story even move her? How can the story change her? How is the story so unique that I have to…” She was lamenting again when I punched the bed in frustration. 

 

“Zoe, please be sane! Please talk like a child of the King. Please” I said and she sniffed. 

 

“They don’t want me to share Blossom’s story with her alone. They want me to stop her from being suicidal. They want me to motivate her to start using her prosthetic devices. They want me to motivate her to start attending physiotherapy sessions, They want me to get her to love her child. Ah, me? Who am I to do all these things? I can’t. I am not capable. What if I fail? What if I don’t know what to say again after sharing Blossom’s story?” 

 

I moved to her swiftly and held her shoulders. I started shaking her as vigorously as I could. 

 

“Zoe, please wake up! My wife, please wake up! I love you!” I said, forcing my tears to stay in. 

 

“I know and I love you too” She said and I bent before her. 

 

“Do you know that you really can’t do all these things?” I asked and she nodded. 

 

“That is exactly what I am saying” She said, relief clearly showing her face. 

 

“You can’t do all these. God will be the one to do it through you” I said, bursting her bubbles. She sighed.

 

“Do you know how much God has spoken to me concerning you in the past few days?” 

 

“About me?” She asked, looking suprised. 

 

“Sure! He was the one who told me about Grace. He was the One who led me to make all those calls with you. 

 

“Hmmm….but Dave, why don’t you do this? Why don’t you share the Blossom’s story with her and be the counsellor and all? I know you are busy but you can always do this after work. You can always….”

 

“This is your assignment! Your name is written clearly on it”

 

“How?” 

 

“Can’t you see that you were the one that was in her dream? You were the one who could face Grace, who could talk life into her and who could bring her out of her cell?”

 

“I think it was merely a coincidence. I couldn’t have been the one who….”

 

“You were not the one, Zoe, it was God! It was God through you! Not through David but you, Zoe!”

 

“Dave, stop” She burst out crying again. “I can’t do this.”

 

“Your name is Zoe, you are life! You can’t afford to fail God, my dearest.” I said and she shook her head stubbornly, hopelessly and lifelessly. 

 

“I can’t!” She said finally and I nodded, stood up from my squatting position and walked to the bed, feeling so empty and dry. 

 

I branched at the tall fridge in the room, picked up a bottle of water, gulped the whole content down, squeezed the bottle and threw in the bin. 

 

I picked up the remote control and switched on the TV to see if there would be something thrilling on screen to calm my nerves. I was really drained. I couldn’t have imagined that I would be that drained after the mighty revival session that had the Hand of God fully in it just a few hours before.

 

So, welcome back from the commercial break. We still have in the studio Lysa TerKeurst and Sharon Jaynes, our guests on this edition of ‘The Powerful Women. Our topic once again is ‘I am so inadequate’. Lysa, you were about saying something before we went on the commercial break. Over to you.

 

‘Lord, is this the means you want to use to talk to Zoe? Daddy, please let it be’ I prayed silently. I peeped at her. She was still seated on the sofa, her head bowed. 

 

‘Thank you, Anna’ Lysa started ‘I was talking about Mary, the young mother of Jesus. You know, somehow, just as she was, God chose her to be Jesus’ mother. And the only qualification she seemed to have was her willingness. 

 

I nodded.

 

‘Luke 1:38a, b says “‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.'” This lady trusted God’s plan, obvious and that was all that mattered!’ 

 

‘Hmmmm’ I exclaimed, nodding, peeping at my wife to see if the points were hitting her at all. She seemed so lifeless. She didn’t move a bit. 

 

“Holy Spirit, please take over my wife. Please, Lord” I prayed silently.

 

‘Mary could have easily rattled off a list of the reasons she should be passed over for such an incredible privilege. Too young. Too poor. Too inexperienced. Just a simple girl from a town of no great consequence. Oh … and a virgin. Which makes having a baby impossible.’ Lysa continued. 

 

“Kai!” I exclaimed at how accurate the words were at those moments.

 

‘The only question Mary had for the angel who had come to deliver the message was: “‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ as seen in (Luke 1:34)

 

I heard a moan from Zoe and I knew that the words had started hitting her. I was glad. 

 

‘And Angel Gariel sweetly answered her. He told her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Most High God will overshadow her. He also told her of what God had done in Elizabeth, her cousin and how God can do all impossibilities. That is in Luke 1:35-37’

 

‘I must  confess that I am humbled and amazed by Mary’s question. All she wanted to know was how the pregnancy was going to be physically possible. She didn’t ask any of the questions I might have been tempted to ask, like, “Are you sure you have the right person? Don’t you know how unqualified I am? Have you considered asking one of the women just down the street? Surely any one of them would be a better choice than me.’

 

“Oh my!” I exclaimed, quite awed by the method the Holy Spirit employed to talk to His daughter. 

 

I saw as my wife fell on her knees. My heart jumped for joy within me.

 

A woman to a woman! 

 

So perfect!

 

Lord, You are simply the perfect planner!

 

It’s so easy to look around and think there are plenty of other people way more qualified than we are, isn’t it? But all God wanted from Mary was her willingness. No, that is it! That is all He needs. We just needed to lift our willingness up to Him daily and let Him help us be the best version of us.

 

“Hmmm, Daddy!” Zoe cried out and I nodded too as I started typing in my notebook. 

 

I had never seen the story of Mary that way before. 

 

“Maybe you aren’t feeling very qualified today. Maybe you feel like God should pass you over and pick someone else for the assignments He’s placed before you. If that’s you, I want you to know this — God absolutely loves to take ordinary people and do extraordinary things in them, through them and with them. He’s not waiting on you to impress Him. He simply wants you to say “yes” to Him. Yes, Lord. I’m Yours. All of me. All for You.”

 

“Okay Lord, Okay Lord” My baby cried. 

 

“Let’s stop offering God our excuses and lists of why He can’t work in us and through us. Let’s believe with our whole heart that nothing is too hard for Him. And let’s lay down our measuring sticks of perfection and humbly bow our heads as we offer Him our willingness today.”

 

‘Wow, that was quite inspiring Lysa. Thank you. Sharon Jaynes, do you have anything to add before we say our B-Y-Es on the show today’

 

‘Thank you, Anna. I will only add to what Lysa has said. You see, apart from Mary, Moses was also someone who felt he wasn’t good enough. When God spoke through a burning bush and called Moses to lead His people out of Egyptian bondage, he had a big case of the “I am inadequate’

 

‘Moses argued with God. He told God that He was the wrong man for the job. He wasn’t brave enough, strong enough, smart enough, eloquent enough, charismatic enough or confident enough. At one point, Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

 

‘And God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’ That is in Exodus 3:13-14. My fellow powerful women, the case of Moses taught me a big lesson that even the weakest knees in the hands of I AM can become a mighty force to be reckoned with.’

 

“Hmmmm” I exclaimed, typing so furiously in my notebook. 

 

“Ahhhhhh!” My wife shouted, covering her mouth to muffle the sound. 

 

 

‘The feelings of inferiority, insecurity and inadequacy are contrary to the Spirit of God! I’m not strong enough. I’m not experienced enough. I’m not talented enough. I’m not brave enough. I’m not pretty enough. I am not saved enough. I am not wise enough. I am not spirit-filled enough. I am not holy enough- all these are false beliefs!’

 

‘Okay ma’ My broken wife let out with so much pain. I smiled, my heart full of gratitude to God. 

 

‘Remember this always, dear powerful woman listening out there. Whatever positive characteristic you feel you are not, God is! Whatever you need, God is! He is the God who fills in our gaps; He is I AM who fills in our blanks!’

 

Zoe and I burst out into tongues at that statement. It made a whole lot of sense to us. 

 

This God!

 

When we say, “I’m not strong enough,” God says, “I AM.” When we say, “I’m not smart enough,” God says, “I AM.” When we say, “I’m not good enough,” God says, “I AM.”

 

“Oh, Father, I am sorry” Zoe cried, sitting on the floor, her hands raised. 

 

‘Once we let go of the lies that we’re not enough … and take hold of the truth that we’re more than enough because of Jesus’ presence and power in us … then we’ll be set free from paralyzing insecurity and on our way to experiencing courageous confidence to do everything He calls us to do. We’ll get out of the caboose and sit up front with the Engineer.’

 

I could feel the whole room charged up at that. I jumped up and started walking from one corner to the other, praying in the Holy Ghost as I did. 

 

‘Paul lamented about his weakness and God told him in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that  “But he [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” That is what happens when we allow God to fill in our blanks. He turns what we perceive as our greatest weakness into our greatest strength.’

 

“Okay, Lord! I have heard Lord! I am so sorry, Lord. You are enough for me. I do not have to be enough. I do not have to be adequate. He is enough for me! He loves me, He has called me. He has chosen me. He has employed me. I leave the caboose now and sit with the Engineer!” My wife prayed out. I switched off the TV started to wave my hands in appreciation to God. 

 

“Zoe, why would you ever doubt your worth in Christ? Why? Isaiah 43:4 said that ‘Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you’ That is what God is saying about you, Zoe, why did you look down on yourself” She said and started to cry, beating her laps. 

 

“1 Peter 2:9 said that ‘But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.’ I am so unique to this God! He has called me, He has chosen me! Ahhhhh…..” She exclaimed, rolling on the floor. I smiled. 

 

I stand before You now

The greatness of your renown

I have heard of the majesty and wonder of you

King of Heaven, in humility, I bow

 

 

 

She started to sing ‘YOU MAKE ME BRAVE’ one of my very best songs. 

 

 

As Your love, in wave after wave

Crashes over me, crashes over me

For You are for us

You are not against us

Champion of Heaven

You made a way for all to enter in

 

 

 

I walked briskly to my phone, connected it to the sound system and soon, the sound of the inspiring song filled the room, beating so gently, yet so powerful. 

 

 

 

I have heard You calling my name

I have heard the song of love that You sing

So I will let You draw me out beyond the shore

Into Your grace

Your grace

 

 

I walked to her side, sat on the floor with her and sang with her, holding her waist. 

 

 

 

 

As Your love, in wave after wave

Crashes over me, crashes over me

For You are for us

You are not against us

Champion of Heaven

You made a way for all to enter into

 

 

Your love, in wave after wave

Crashes over me, crashes over me

For You are for us

You are not against us

Champion of Heaven

You made a way for all to enter in

 

 

 

I threw my hands up in the air as we moved to the chorus. 

 

 

‘Cause you make me brave

You make me brave

You call me out beyond the shore into the waves

You make me brave

You make me brave

No fear can hinder now the love that made a way

 

 

 

 

 

You make me brave

You make me brave

You call me out beyond the shore into the waves

You make me brave

You make me brave

No fear can hinder now the promises you made

 

 

We repeated the chorus thrice and went solemnly to the verse again. My wife’s nightie was soaked in tears. 

 

 

 

As Your love, in wave after wave

Crashes over me, crashes over me

For You are for us

You are not against us

Champion of Heaven

You made a way for all to enter in

 

 

 

Listen to the song below:

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UglO7SGUWk

 

————————————————————————-

DAVID

 

It felt something warm touch my lips. 

 

Again.

 

And again. 

 

Then, I knew it was time to wake up. 

 

As I sat up, I saw my queen seated beside me on the bed, well-dressed and beaming with smiles. I shook my head, smiled and then stretched. 

 

“You are the one looking for trouble now o, ehn ehn” I said and she started laughing. 

 

“What do you mean?” She asked, still laughing. 

 

“How can you be waking me up with some sumptuous pecks like that and you are dressed as if you are already going out? You won’t even serve me breakfast?” I asked and she rushed at me and covered my mouth. 

 

“Stop being vulgar. You don’t know if there are CCTVs in this room o” She said and I smiled. 

 

“But tonight will not pass o. You know we have missed our date because of this consultation, ehn ehn, we have to reschedule that but tonight, sha, be ready for me o” I said, jokingly and she laughed, slapping my chest playfully. 

 

“Sweet Dee, thank you so much for yesternite. Thanks for talking to me. Thanks for praying to God to talk to me. I am so sure you did talk to God. I am so sure you did report me to God”

 

“Yes I did actually” I said and laughed shortly. 

 

“Thank you for doing that. I am renewed. I woke up this morning, feeling so refreshed. I had several nice visions that I have documented in our Visions Book on Google Docs.”

 

“Wow, that is beautiful! I will check them out. I am so happy to see you bubbling with life my darling. What time is it?” 

 

“5am” She said and I was aghast. 

 

“And you are already up, dressed and beautiful like this?” I asked and she smiled. 

 

I had thought that because we slept so late, my wife would wake up so late but I guessed, divine encounter had taken over!

 

“I am strong and refreshed. This is the gown you sent to me for the date. I look so radiant, right?” She asked and I pulled her close and pecked her. 

 

“I couldn’t even recognize the cloth again. You have so much beautified it. Oh my!” I said, really admiring her. My focus had not been on the dress at all. I had been focused on her face all the while. 

 

“I want to call Grace now to know when we should meet. I handed over my official duties to Dr. Adegbite when we came back yesterday so I guess we can start the discussion right away.” She said and I nodded, clapping joyfully. 

 

“That’s the spirit! But it is too early, you know” I said. Her phone beeped and she checked. 

 

“Mummy just sent a voice note” She said and played it. 

 

“You and your husband ehn, na you sabi. But Ella and Lily are hungry o. They want to suck directly from the source. All the expressions you did in the bottles, they have finished them. They have just been crying since morning. Ah, but the mothers of twins are trying o. Are you people at home? I am bringing them right away. You, didn’t you even miss your sucklings at all, ehn. Nawa for you o. All these modern abiyamo….shior!”

 

Both of us burst into a fit of laughter as the voicenote came to an end. 

 

“Mummy is too hilarious, man! And to tell you that between yesterday and today, I had totally forgotten that I have a set of newborn twins! Oh my, am I abiyamo indeed like this?” She asked, still smiling.

 

“You are abiyamo o. You had simply been preoccupied with the work of the Lord, simple.” 

 

“Thanks for making it sound good, my husband. Let me share the location with mummy ASAP. Let me bath my babies, feed them before setting out for my session with Gracey” She said and started typing. 

 

Her phone started ringing. 

 

“Oh, speak of the devil” She said, smiling. 

 

“Gracey?” I asked and she nodded. 

 

 

“Hello Gracey, good morning” 

 

“Good morning Mummy Zee. Wow, I didn’t know you would be up this early” She said. 

 

“I am also surprised to see you are awake this early” My wife replied. 

 

“Are we starting the Blossom’s story today? Please say ‘yes’ Did Blossom say ‘yes’?” She asked so curious. 

 

“Yes she did!” My wife announced excitedly. 

 

I was so glad at the sudden transition from being timid and weak, to being bold and strong. From being so unsure and sad to being glad and excited. 

 

This is just the Holy Spirit!

 

“The Lord that answers by fire, You are my God, the Lord that answers by Fire, You are my God” Grace started singing. Zoe burst out laughing and I joined her. 

 

“I have been praying about it since you left yesterday. I am hopeful that the story will change my life. I can feel it in my body” Grace said and Zoe sighed, her smile waning. I squeezed her hand just then and she smiled. 

 

“I believe too. With God in the front seat, we will definitely arrive at the best destination.” She said and I nodded affirmatively. 

 

“I believe, mum. I do believe” She replied. “So, when am I expecting you?” 

 

“Soon. I am expecting my babies to be brought to me. I need to clean and take care of them before coming. Get ready to receive us in a grand style”

 

“Oh my, I saw those cuties on Instagram yesterday. I ransacked all your social media accounts before I slept, ehn!” She said and laughed. “I can’t wait to see and hold them in my arms. It would be such a great honour” She said. 

 

“Kindly help pass the information to the security so that my mother-in-law will be allowed to drive in” 

 

“Alright, mum. I will do that right away. I love you, Mummy Zee. Greetings to Daddy Dee” She said and dropped the call. 

 

“Doesn’t it feel weird to be called a mum by such a big girl?” Zoe asked as she dropped the call. 

 

“It’s an honour God has gifted you with. Enjoy it and give the glory to God o, mummy Zee” I teased her and she rolled over to my side and started punching my back playfully. 

 

I was glad that the meaning of her name, Zoe was coming to play! 

 

Lord, I can’t wait to see how you will send life from this life-changing story into the deadness of the life of Grace. 

 

Grace, Lord!

 

 

Great grace!

 

Click here for Episode 7