"The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar in Lebanon" (Psalm 92:12)

We apply faith to claim a lot of Biblical blessings but without researching into them. Cedars and palm trees don't grow as fast as tomatoes trees, and perhaps the same reason they can weather the storms that destroy tomato farms. The time spent deepening their roots don't go to waste, but helps to sustain, build resilience, and offer stability to them. When I see fellow millennials lose hope so easily, I usually wonder who promised us a spontaneous route to flourishing! Blooming flowers are beautiful to behold but we should be reminded that summer doesn't last 12 months – there comes the autumn, and followed by the winter; trying times.

Let us start with waiting for the right spouse. Waiting can be so frustrating, especially when there are no specific timelines or expiry attached. For some people, life continues and when the right spouse shows up, s/he takes his or her space, but until then, no joy is lost and all energy deployed to diverse constructive tasks, just as we read from Olukunle earlier in this series. A senior friend of mine once admitted to me that her busy work ethic helps to cancel out loneliness. And to her credit, she is flying so unstoppably in her work. I know people who married so late and ended up being very happy in their marriages. That happiness is the ultimate aim. Marrying early or late doesn't determine happy matrimony. Rather than living solely for the day your wedding bells will ring, why not set out to make the most use of your time and the lesser responsibilities that come with bachelorhood or spinsterhood, adding value to your life? Grow into a better person, a better spouse. While he tarries, evolve into a greater woman!

One of the most frustrating waiting in human history is waiting for the fruits of the womb. Some couples lived excellent and chaste lives before marriage and are having to wait for conception and sometimes no results, after trying several righteous and scientific efforts. The success of Samuel's destiny far outweighs the years of Hannah's waiting. Some “Isaacs” have greater missions that are worth the many years their parents have to wait. I know of a wealthy couple who waited for many years and explored European and American expertise care. They ended up adopting a baby, only for the woman to conceive within a few months after. Also, IVF is something that I hope will be much more affordable over the coming years, and that nations like Nigeria will have more IVF experts. For some couples, that does the magic.

I had the honour of relating with the late entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist – Dr. Lawrence Omole (God rest his soul), and the greatest lesson I took away from him is that no living human being can be written off. However, there were structures, processes, and principles upon which he built his wealth. He didn't start with those structures in place, he assembled them as he learned from his failings and setbacks. Pastor Sam Adeyemi has continually taught success principles over many years and he is not afraid to share stories of their struggling days. Income from the first two years of my career was invested almost entirely in the stocks market. I saw that investment as my route to escape abject poverty and when the global recession destroyed the stocks market, it was like I would never break free from poverty. Please be reminded that the most famous entrepreneurs and business magnates are products of some sorts of failures, hard lessons, patience, and resilience.

Until some weeks ago, not many of us knew about Lady Evangelist Tolu Adelegan or Mrs. Yinka Alaseyori (author and famous singer of the song – Oniduro Mi, respectively). The hit song/track was only one of Mrs. Adelegan's many works and she may have given up on it. At the time of blooming, God raised the talent of a younger person in the ministry, and – bang!! That previously forgotten work may well be Nigeria's song of the year. A few days ago, I was listening to Evang. Sola Alison sharing some of her stories of how she evolved through the church choir and the very hopeless days. One vital lesson from her story is that she continued to serve God and God's people with her talent, and sure, destiny will come for everyone – only that it meets many people unprepared.

In academics and careers, some people will just not blossom so early. Not because they are slothful; it's just not their time yet. I know of a brother in our community many years ago who got a low-level NNPC job immediately after high school and went through tertiary education on the job. He wasn't one of the best in his high school class. That's a flier. But you see, as late as it may be, I can recall few members of that high school clique having their life's footing as well, over time and some of them are actually doing excellently as though they lost no time. Many years ago, an older friend of mine would lament how his colleagues were leaving him behind and how he continues to make significant efforts, more efforts than some of his flying contemporaries. But today, most of those fliers now refer to him as the highlight of their contemporary. The efforts he invested in became tools with which God lifted him when multiple opportunities arose.

Mr. & Mrs. F spent all their earnings to educate their six (6) children. They did not do affidavits to manipulate their employers and stay an extra few years in civil service. From what others narrated, they were both forthright. But, not as financially viable as their contemporaries who could play the system's bad games of extorting others and faking birth certificates. They both retired while their only house remained uncompleted. They lacked and struggled while people who did less flew high in the same system. But, it only took one shot to change their stories. One of their children got an opportunity that brought in glorious opportunities for her siblings and now, one can get lost in Papa and Mama F's beautiful and tastefully completed compound. It took long, but they bloomed.

Conclusively, please allow me to insert that while blooming takes too long, please deliberately learn to grow and evolve. Handicraft professions such as tailoring, hair-styling, baking, makeover, etc; have become the podiums for blooming for many university graduates. Don't just keep waiting for office jobs. Also, seek information and mentoring from those who are excelling in your areas of interest, it doesn't matter if they were your high school or college juniors. Networking, leveraging, connection, and team working are the ruling words of this dispensation. You can't go far alone; nobody can. So, you must be a great team player. In addition, the world has evolved significantly, let your mind evolve to accommodate as many constructive opportunities as are available unto children of God.

Essentially, please remember that Ps 92 vs 12 talks about the righteous (godly, good people).