A Destined Delay – Stephanie Ike Okafor
The Power of Being Rooted in God
One of the most profound things the Lord revealed to me about this house is its consistency and steadfastness. He showed me that this is a house deeply planted in Him. However, being planted can sometimes feel slow or uneventful—just like when you plant a seed, it takes time before you see the fruit. But nurturing that seed requires diligence and perseverance.
The Lord made it clear to me that this house is both diligent and consistent. He spoke these words: “I have found pleasure in them.” As I prayed and sought His guidance, He gave me a powerful and encouraging message—one I know He intended for the women who needed to hear it.
The Unfailing Love of Jesus
Just as was mentioned earlier, the love of Jesus is truly remarkable. If you have never experienced it, I encourage you to ask the Lord, “God, how do You see me?” His love for each of us is so deep that it can make you feel like you are the only person in the world.
I first encountered the Lord when I was nine years old, at a time when I needed Him more than I realized. Although I grew up in a Christian household, my circumstances had left me feeling angry and distant from God. Then, at that young age, I had a supernatural encounter with an angel. I mistakenly thought I had met God Himself. That morning, my mother received an unexpected call from her pastor, who told her there had been angelic activity in our home. He said the Lord had urged him to call and share this with her.
When I heard that, I told my mother, “Mom, I met God!” But in that moment, I began to hear the voice of the Lord clearly. He gently corrected me: “That was not Me.” He then began teaching me about angels and, from that moment forward, I started encountering Jesus Himself.
The first thing He did was transform my heart. He taught me about love and forgiveness—not as mere lessons, but as a revelation of His very essence. Jesus is love, and when He teaches you, He is simply revealing who He is. His love drew me in so powerfully that, even though I never expected to become a pastor, I knew I wanted to surrender my life completely to Him. I made a commitment: “Lord, whatever You ask of me, my answer will always be yes.” If I could share even a fraction of the love I had found in Him, I would do so wholeheartedly.
Surrendering to God’s Calling
At one point, I was working in real estate when I began to feel distant from God. But that distance wasn’t because He had left me—it was because He was calling me into a deeper season of faith. The Lord told me clearly:
“It’s time to step away. Shut the business down. Move. Leave behind everything you’ve been doing.”
It was a complete disruption of my life, but because of the love of Jesus, I trusted Him. I obeyed, and in that process, He revealed my true calling: ministry.
Disruptions in life may not always make sense in the moment. You may not see how one event connects to another. But everything connected to the hand of God is also connected to His heart for you. He loves you beyond measure, and His plans for you are greater than anything you could imagine.
A Word from Luke 1:26-38
Today, I will be speaking from Luke 1:26-38, but before I do, I want to take a moment to honor the leaders, staff, and volunteers of this house. Your dedication is truly beautiful—Amen!
I also want to express my gratitude for my husband, who is currently at the hotel with our daughter. I thank God for his love, sacrifice, and unwavering support as we walk this journey together.
A Special Announcement
Before I close, I want to share something exciting: I have a book coming out in August! It’s titled The Power of Your Dreams.
One of the most consistent ways the Lord has spoken to me is through dreams. These divine messages have saved and transformed my life in incredible ways. Writing this book was not just a personal project—it was an assignment from the Lord to awaken His people to the power of hearing His voice through dreams.
I pray that as you read it, you will be encouraged to seek God more deeply and recognize His voice in your own life.
May the love of Jesus continue to guide and transform you!