I was trained as an engineer, and for many years I pursued, intently and passionately, the dream of building a career in the oil and gas industry. Given the industry’s reputation for professional prestige and financial reward, this ambition felt both logical and worthwhile. From Nigeria to South Africa and onward to Europe, I pursued this path with determination and resolve.
I applied widely, leaving no opportunity unexplored. I was interviewed by several major organizations, including Shell Nigeria, Sasol in South Africa, ExxonMobil, and Subsea7 in the United Kingdom. Despite multiple interviews and strong efforts, no job offer materialized. Over time, the repeated rejections became deeply discouraging.
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Eventually, the situation became so difficult that I turned deliberately to God in prayer, seeking clarity and direction. In that place of prayer, I received a clear conviction that God was calling me into the teaching ministry, to serve as a teacher within the body of Christ and to pursue a professional career in education.
Divine alignment is the state of agreement between the human heart and God’s purposes. To be aligned with God is to move in harmony with His will; to be misaligned is to walk in directions contrary to His intent for our lives.
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Throughout Scripture, God’s will, sometimes described as His plan, purpose, or counsel, is presented as central to faithful living. While these terms may differ in expression, they point to the same reality: God is intentional, purposeful, and sovereign. For those who belong to Him, the call is not for God to adjust Himself to our desires, but for us to yield our will to His.
As followers of Christ, sonship and daughterhood require submission. Jesus Himself modelled this when He prayed, “Not My will, but Yours be done.”
Scripture consistently affirms the importance of discerning and living in alignment with God’s will:
- Ephesians 5:17 – “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
- Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may discern what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
- Psalm 143:10 – “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
The Bible makes it clear: God has a will. He has purposes for our spiritual lives, our marriages, our vocations, our ministries, and even for nations. Yet, the will of God is not always revealed through comfort or ease. At times, it is disclosed through difficulty, conflict, and struggle.
Back to my story, I rejected the Lord’s message outright to pursue a lifetime ministry and professional career as a teacher. Both of my parents were educators, my mother a teacher and my father a university lecturer. I had vivid memories of the hardship our family endured when their salaries were delayed or unpaid. Those experiences left a lasting impression, and I was determined not to follow the same path. Despite this, I continued applying persistently to oil and gas companies, convinced that perseverance would eventually yield results. Yet nothing changed. Opportunity after opportunity closed, and years passed in growing frustration.
When things did not work, I changed strategy. Out of a mixture of deep desperation and unwavering resolve, I took an unconventional step: I wrote directly to Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of UBA. Yes, personally. I did so, driven by a determined desire to break the cycle of financial instability, to fully deploy my skills and international exposure for the well‑being of my family, and ultimately for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.
I invite you to journey with me through this pivotal chapter of my life, a defining season that led me toward the discovery of what heaven had already written concerning my destiny.
Frustration had reached its peak, and I decided to take personal responsibility for my future by writing to Mr. Elumelu directly. In my message, I clearly expressed my desire to work with him in Nigeria and shared a compelling vision of how I could contribute meaningfully to the growth and transformation of his organization.
Within a week, I received a call from his office. His Personal Assistant informed me that Mr. Elumelu had requested a meeting with me at The Dorchester in London, one of the most iconic hotels in the United Kingdom. I travelled to London and was ushered directly from the reception to his private suite.
At last, I yielded. In surrender to what I now understood to be God’s will, I applied for admission into a PhD program. I was accepted, and that marked the beginning of a turning point in my life. From that moment, doors began to open, clarity emerged, and my sense of purpose was restored.
Today, I can say with deep gratitude and conviction that aligning my life with God’s plan has proven, beyond any doubt, that one can never go wrong by following His purpose for their life.
God’s Will Revealed through Life’s Battles:
Scripture itself is God’s revealed will in written form. If one desires to understand God’s will concerning marriage, holiness, justice, or righteousness, the Bible is the primary source. However, not every specific detail of life is explicitly stated in Scripture.
For example:
- The name of one’s future spouse may not be written in Scripture
- A particular career decision may not appear in biblical text
- A specific geographic relocation may not be directly addressed
Yet, God still speaks.
Often, He speaks through circumstances, through trials, and through moments that press us beyond our own understanding. Scripture shows us a God who addresses His people in the midst of storms.
- Mark 4:35–39 – Jesus speaks with authority in the middle of a raging storm.
- Jonah 1:4 – “The Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest.”
When our lives drift out of alignment, God may use circumstances, not as punishment, but as mercy, to redirect our hearts. Many times, God is already speaking, but impatience, fear, or distraction prevents us from hearing.
Hearing God through Scarcity and Crisis:
In John 21, Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples not during abundance, but through scarcity. Their nets were empty, and it was in that place of lack that revelation came.
God does not always reveal Himself in seasons of visible success. Sometimes, He draws us closer through loss, challenge, or uncertainty so that our dependence may shift from outcomes to intimacy.
Joseph never recorded a direct divine instruction guiding every stage of his journey. Instead, God spoke through experiences—betrayal, imprisonment, promotion. Likewise, Jacob, Isaac, and Moses encountered divine direction in the course of lived realities. For many, God’s voice was not heard audibly, but was discerned experientially.
Through life’s battles, God may be saying:
- My purposes for you cannot be cancelled by hardship.
- This trial is refining your character for what lies ahead.
- I remain present even in adversity; I have not abandoned you.
- Sometimes separation is wisdom, like Isaac, it may be time to dig another well rather than strive.
- As the burning bush revealed to Moses, some fires are not meant to destroy you, but to reveal divine purpose.
God is often speaking clearly through crises in careers, ministries, businesses, health, or migration journeys, but discernment requires stillness.
Isaiah 30:21 – “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’”
Back to my story:
Upon arrival at the Dorchester Hotel, London, I found Mr. Elumelu seated with three other executives in one of the fanciful suites of this prestigious hotel. After exchanging greetings, he looked at me and said, “I received your email and proposal. You want to work for me.” I replied respectfully, “Yes, sir.” He then asked one of the executives present to continue discussions with me downstairs.
Shortly thereafter, Mr. Elumelu joined us, warmly shook my hand, congratulated me, and verbally affirmed what appeared to be a finalized agreement. We discussed a highly attractive offer that involved relocating my family and me to Abuja. His parting words were clear: “Wait for your package from HR.”
Days passed. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and the promised package never came. It never arrived. What I later came to understand was that God had intervened.
I was devastated. In deep anguish, I returned to prayer and cried out to God, asking, “What is wrong with me? Oil companies interviewed me and made no offers. Now, even my own people, why?” I pleaded with God to show me the root of the matter.
Ayo Akerele is the senior pastor of Rhema Assembly and the founder of the Voice of the Watchmen Ministries in Ontario, Canada. He can be reached through [email protected]. You can connect with him on: YouTube: @VoiceoftheWatchmen, TikTok: @drayoakerele, Instagram: @drayoakerele, Facebook: @Ayo Akerele
