This chocolate box picture was taken by my Swiss friend Maeni, while on an early morning walk in Switzerland.
I recently returned from a short visit to Maputo in Mozambique, expecting to find a run-down, dilapidated, and dirty city. I found the opposite. All the streetlights were working, and the Maputo-Katembe bridge (Africa’s longest suspension bridge) a magnificent sight at night. The city centre streets were spotless, notwithstanding the chaotic traffic.
On returned to SA we moved within second through the Mozambique side of the border and I was shocked to see the arrogant, inept and corrupt boarder officials on the South African side. Hours of waiting in long queues, but “if you pay R100 per passport sir, I will take you to the front of the line at this container.”
On leaving the border post I was so angry and discouraged about the blatantly corrupt officials and our country in general. How can a ‘backward country’ like Mozambique keep all their lights on and their city centre streets clean? – basics in any civilised society while we sit with water and power outages sometimes for days at end, traffic lights that have not worked in years, traffic signs run over without being fixed and litter strewn everywhere – that may be removed every few months and hardly ever in townships.
A few mornings after my return, I was thinking of the high price we are paying due to the corrupt people in charge, and I was deeply discouraged. After complaining to the Lord and telling Him how I felt, I opened my 10-year Diary, which contains some of my previous blogs every 7-10 days, and I saw my blog “Discouragement – Satan’s stock in trade.” (https://nicovandermerwe.com/discouragement-satans-stock-in-trade/ )
I smiled, God is so faithful, giving me a strong dose of my own medicine and I was also reminded of what the Lord said to me last year about constructing the eight new Eduplex high school classrooms when the Holy Spirit whispered “read Jeremiah 29 verse 6”
“Multiply, don’t dwindle away.”
This was a clear instruction to continue with the construction and absolutely in line with the promises the Lord has given me over the years about our country since 1993.
My eyes then fell on verse 7
“Pray for the peace and prosperity of the city…
for if it prospers, you will prosper”.
Then the solution became clear as day – I need to look away from myself and pray more! I need to stop criticising, stop joining the choirs of negativity, stop being so lazy and be more on my knees for the leaders of our cities, provinces, and our national leadership. I need to pray for peace and prosperity – not for “I, myself and me” Nico! but for the city and all the other cities God has blessed us to have Ear Institutes in. God has not given up on our country, how dare I give up!
And the more I started looking away from myself, the more I started seeing God working in strange and mysterious ways, just as He has promised in Isaiah 43:18+19
“Forget the former things. See, I am doing something new,
don’t you see it? It has already begun.
I am going to make a pathway in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert.”
Lord, please forgive me for being so negative and so lazy. Help me to walk uprightly and in integrity and protect me from thinking I am something, when I am nothing. Please open my eyes to see what you are busy doing Lord and show me the role that I can play in bringing peace and prosperity to the city where you have placed me. Amen.
Dear Nico, thank you for sharing your experience, wisdom and, insight. I reflect on a quote by John C Maxwell, ”Ëverything rises and falls on leadership” – Your life and journey has been inspiring – love reading your book, ”What God Knows About Business” and as brothers and sisters in Christ we are called to be a salt and light. Blessing, Frank
Thanks for sharing your experience Nico. Yes, there key challenges in the country but also many people trying to make a difference for a better future like yourself.
Fortunately with God on our side we can achieve this and turn this country around.
Nico, thank you for an inspiring and honest reflection. It’s a reminder that despite the discouragement we often feel, God is always faithful and working in ways we may not yet see. Thank you for sharing this!
Goedemiddag Nico
Jouw bericht geeft mij hoop. Ook ik dacht waar is God na alle ellende van de afgelopen 10 maanden.ä (zwaar fietsongeluk…)
Nu bid ik voor kracht en vraag of de Heilige Geest met onze kinderen en kleinkinderen wil zijn… ze wil behoeden voor gevaar na de zo plotselinge dood van de man van mijn dochter Tiny… hij was net 45 geworden…Op 2 maart stond plotseling zijn hart stil. Sprakeloos… En Tiny Wil niets meer horen over God…
Bidden voor haar, maar vooral ook voor vrede op aarde… 🕊️
Thank you for sharing, Ine. You and the family have been through a very rough time and we do not always understand the reason. I will pray for you and Tiny. May God carry you in these very difficult times.
Another well-written admonishment to us all and a reminder of our personal roles.
Hi Nico,
Very profound indeed. We must not forget John 10:10, the devil comes to steal destroy and kill.
AMEN!
Hi Nico, thank you for this strong reminder on WHY we are here and that we are called to make a difference in the sphere God has called us to. This article encapsulated my own emotions on a daily basis, but also echoes the hope that we have in Christ, and being faithful in doing what He has called us to do.
Dankie Nico. Ons moenie lui wees nie, ons moet bid! Vir ons families, vir mekaar en vir ons land en leiers.
Amen!!!
Dankie Nico vir hierdie “inspiring ” boodskap. Ek glo ons almal voel soms so, maar sal hierdie onthou as ek weer moedeloos voel.
wow Nico!! what i awesome lesson we all need to learn and do!! i recently bought and read 3 of your books and yes on our knees – BID EN VIR JULLE SAL GEGEE WORD!!
ook n les: JULLE HET NIE WANT JULLE BID NIE!!
groete paula@border.co.za
Thank you very much Nico for sharing. Amen GOD BE WITH YOU