...But God said So

Chapter 13: Order His Steps

Joshua woke before dawn.

For a moment, he remained in bed, staring at the ceiling.

The house was quiet.

A rare occurrence.

No sounds from the kitchen.

No television downstairs.

No Jane barging into his room with the energy of a hurricane.

Joshua smiled and sat up.

His suitcase stood beside the door, ready to go.

The past few days had been good.

Needed, even.

Between ministry, meetings, counseling sessions and the endless demands of church life, he didn't get enough opportunities to simply be a son and a brother.

Today, however, it was back to reality.

Back to work.

Back to responsibilities.

Back to his apartment.

Joshua reached for his Bible and settled into the armchair by the window.

The city was still waking up.

He liked mornings like this.

Quiet.

Uninterrupted.

He spent time in the Scriptures, jotting down thoughts in his notebook.

Afterward, he reviewed his sermon notes for Sunday.

The message was already prepared.

He simply refined a few points, prayed through them again and closed the notebook.

Then he bowed his head.

His prayers moved naturally from gratitude to intercession.

He prayed for his church.

For the workers.

For the families represented in the congregation.

For wisdom.

For discernment.

For grace.

Then his thoughts drifted to the hospital.

To a chapel.

To a pair of wounded eyes.

Joshua paused.

"Father..."

He exhaled slowly.

"You know her."

Silence.

"You know what she's carrying."

He rested his elbows on his knees.

"Whatever happened to her..."

His voice softened.

"Please help her."

That was all.

No questions.

No demands.

No requests for explanations.

Just help her.

After a while, he rose and got ready for the day.

By the time Joshua came downstairs, breakfast was already on the table.

His mother was setting down a plate of waffles.

His father sat with a newspaper.

Jane was helping herself to sausages she had no hand in preparing.

"Good morning."

"Morning, son."

"Good morning, dear."

Jane looked up.

"Oh."

Joshua narrowed his eyes.

"What does that mean?"

"The traveller has finally joined us."

Joshua pulled out a chair.

"I'm driving across Abuja, not crossing an ocean."

"Still travelling."

"Not really."

Jane pointed her fork at him.

"You should stay."

Joshua laughed.

"Here we go."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

"Tomorrow is Sunday."

"Yes."

"You can do service here and leave afterwards."

Joshua shook his head.

"My church is not here."

"It's still Abuja."

"Jane."

"It is."

His father lowered the newspaper.

"Let him go."

Jane frowned.

"Why are you supporting him?"

"Because he's a grown man."

"That's exactly why he should stay. Nobody will disturb him."

Joshua nearly choked on his coffee.

His mother laughed.

His father looked over the newspaper.

"Nobody?"

Jane ignored him.

"You have food here."

"Yes."

"You have people here."

"Yes."

"You have free laundry here."

Joshua nodded thoughtfully.

"That's actually a strong point."

Jane sat up immediately.

"See!"

"I'm still leaving."

Her face fell.

"Betrayal."

The entire table burst into laughter.

An hour later, Joshua wheeled his suitcase toward the front door.

His mother emerged from the kitchen carrying containers.

Joshua sighed immediately.

"Mum."

"Take them."

"Mum."

"Take them."

"I live thirty minutes away."

"Take them."

Jane laughed.

"Just collect the food."

Joshua accepted defeat.

Outside, he loaded the containers into the car.

His father joined him by the gate.

"Everything packed?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good."

His mother appeared behind them.

"Call me when you get home."

Joshua blinked.

"Mum."

"What?"

"I'm driving from Asokoro to Wuse."

"And?"

Joshua laughed.

"I'll survive."

"I said call me."

"Yes, ma."

Satisfied, she stepped back.

Then his father placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Let's pray before you go."

Everyone bowed their heads.

"Father, thank You for Joshua."

"Amen."

"Thank You for Your hand upon his life."

"Amen."

"Continue to guide him."

"Amen."

"Give him wisdom as he leads Your people."

"Amen."

"Strengthen him for every assignment You have entrusted to him."

"Amen."

"Keep him sensitive to Your voice."

Joshua closed his eyes.

"Amen."

"And order his steps according to Your will."

"Amen."

"In Jesus' name."

"Amen."

The prayer ended.

For a moment, the family stood quietly.

Then Jane cleared her throat.

"Lord, while You're ordering his steps, if one or two steps can lead to a wife, we won't be angry."

Joshua opened his eyes.

"Jane."

His mother burst out laughing.

Even his father shook his head.

"What?" Jane asked innocently.

"I'm helping."

"You are not helping."

"I am."

Joshua pointed at her.

"Don't come to my house."

Jane gasped.

"Wow."

"I'm serious."

"You literally invited me."

"I did not."

"You did in your heart."

"That is not how invitations work."

Jane grinned.

"See you next weekend."

Joshua groaned.

A few minutes later, he climbed into his car.

His mother waved.

His father nodded.

Jane was still laughing at her own joke.

Joshua shook his head, smiling as he pulled out of the compound.

The roads were already filling up.

Abuja was awake.

As he merged into traffic, one line from his father's prayer lingered in his mind.

Order his steps.

Joshua smiled.

Then turned his attention to the road, completely unaware that somewhere else in the same city, God was already arranging the next step for both him and a woman whose name he still didn't know.