ADDICTED TO ANOINTED

By Hannah Enyawuile

SAFACS 2023 ENTRY 19

When Funmike didn't show up for midweek service, Dotun sensed something was wrong. Funmike's unwavering commitment to church had always been commendable, but lately, there was a nagging feeling that God wanted to reveal something about her life - a potentially unsettling truth.

Dotun had tried to approach her before, but she always managed to evade his questions. Now, with Funmike absent from church for the first time in ages, Dotun couldn't ignore the lingering sense of unease.

He glanced around the congregation, wondering if anyone shared his concerns about Funmike. Whispering a prayer, he made up his mind to visit her.

Dotun remembered the location of Funmike's house from a previous visit. Though it appeared empty, he had a strong conviction she was inside. He rang the doorbell, but there was no response. Undeterred, he pounded the door and this time, he heard Funmike's faint reply.

When the door opened, Dotun was taken aback. Funmike's eyes were swollen from crying, a stark contrast to her usual vibrancy.

"What happened to you?" Dotun spluttered in disbelief. "Sorry. Good evening, Sister Funmike."

Funmike struggled to compose herself. "I'm... I'm fine... I'm..." she managed to say before rushing back inside her apartment.

Dotun followed her, leaving the door slightly ajar. He found Funmike huddled in a corner of the couch. Taking a seat on a plastic chair, he apologized once more.

"Sister Funmike, I'm sorry if I upset you. Your absence from church worried me, and that's why I came. But beyond that, you've been on my mind for a while. What's really going on?"

With a quivering voice, Funmike confessed, "Brother Dotun, I must be honest. I'm not the perfect Sister Funmike everyone knows. I've been trapped in masturbation for the past four years. I've tried everything to stop, but it feels hopeless. I'm so dirty, God must hate me now. Perhaps, this is a weakness I'll carry until I die. Just this evening, I was about to go to church when I stumbled on an image on someone's WhatsApp status, and I fell back into my vomit."

Dotun was stunned. He was quiet for a while till he shouted, "The devil is a liar! The Son of God came to destroy the works of the enemy. The devil wants to sift you like wheat, Sister Funmike, but he will not prevail. Listen to me... a weakness is an area of your life that hasn't been exposed to the light of God's Word. Immerse yourself in His Word. Whenever the urge comes, turn to the Word. God will deliver you. Let us pray."

Two years later, Dotun beamed with pride as Funmike shared her testimony of liberation from masturbation before the entire congregation. Reflecting on the time when God prompted him to study overcoming addictions, he realized Funmike was the reason for that calling. She had become an instrument in God's hands, someone the devil sought to ensnare. Dotun was glad he had been available for God's use in her life.