Thirty

I’m thirty. That’s gonna take time getting used to ‘cause I’ve been twenty-five for the longest time, lol.

There’s a big fuss around thirty so I’m really not sure how I’m supposed to ‘feel’. But I know I am grateful, so very grateful. I may not have accomplished everything I had set for myself to accomplish by now, but I am grateful to have things that all the money in the world can not buy…

I am grateful amazing people in my life. I still have both my parents by my side – we are watching each other grow and it’s frustratingly hilarious. In the past year I’ve watched them fall sick and witnessed God heal them. I’m so blessed to have them here still. I am so grateful to have a bestfriend who loves me so loudly, siblings who adore me, and a church family that values me. 

I am grateful to be able to say I love what I do – the fulfilment it brings surpasses the challenges it comes with. I still don’t feel like God made the best choice choosing me, but no amount of self-doubt can counter the affirmation within me from getting to do just what I’ve been designed to do. 

I’ve found that the fuss around thirty is not just in our society, but there’s something about thirty even from a biblical perspective. For example:

• Joseph was thirty years old when he began his reign over Egypt (Genesis 41:46)

• Thirty is the year priests are said to begin their service (Numbers 4:3)

• The first two kings of Israel, Saul and David, were both thirty years old when they began their reign (1 Samuel 13:1, 2 Samuel 5:4)

• Jesus himself is said to be about thirty years old when He began his public ministry (Luke 3:23).

At thirty, all these individuals transitioned from becoming commoners into being leaders. They went for being part of the crowd, to rising up from within it. Of course, not all of them were up for it. Saul tried to hide himself among the baggage when the time came for him to be publicly presented before the whole nation (1 Samuel 10:22). He was already anointed at this point, but I suppose the publicity of it all gave him cold feet. The Levites didn’t have much choice in it either since the priesthood was a matter of linage. Nonetheless, at thirty, they had to transition into their public posts and positions. 

My favorite of all these characters is Joseph who went from being a slave-prisoner to becoming second in-command in Egypt. From being confined to his prison cell, to travelling throughout Egypt, making the most of the years of abundance in each city. At thirty, Joseph literally experienced the fulfillment of his dreams after thirteen years of them being in the making. After thirteen painful years characterized by betrayal by his own brothers, enslavement in a foreign country and imprisonment by wrongful accusation.

Reflecting on these characters has guided my prayers in light of my transition from the twenties to the thirties. I may have already occupied a leadership position for many years already, but a strong element of these characters is the publicity of the leadership post. I’m not praying for more publicity – the pressure of the little publicity I have is hefty enough – all I’m praying for is for God to keep preparing me for the public eye. That when greater platforms approach me, I will be ready with wisdom like Joseph, courage like David and humility like Jesus. 

I’ve been praying that this new season of my life will allow for the fulfillment of dreams long in the making. I’m grateful to be able to say that a few of my desires have been realized in my twenties: I was able to reach some of my academic goals, became a marriage officer and launched Knotted by Gusquare. There’s still a lot of dreams and desires that I’m trusting God to fulfil and I’m praying he grant me a devoted heart, that I’ll stick by Him even when I have everything I ever wanted.

Now let me return to the lovely celebrations my best friend has planned! Thank you for sticking around on my blog for so long reading my thoughts and many other things, having you here counts as one of the highlights of my twenties. I hope you’ll crossover with me and keep reading my (hopefully more) mature thoughts.

"The Lord Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen." Isaiah 14:24