In the United States, I met an atheist recently, and once again I asked that one question I would ask any atheist I meet: How do you renew your hope when you think/feel down? When you feel helpless, when you feel ashamed, when you feel you failed or have been failed? I mean, I really think atheists have a place in the segment and section of the strongest persons on earth. Hope in God is that strength in weakness that is keeping millions of people up strong, dealing with the troubles of every day, and finding reasons to smile. How then does one survive with hope in oneself?

Looking through the years, I testify that hope in God is my strength. I have been to the Mosque; I have been to the Synagogue; I have been to the African traditional shrine; I’m a Christian, and it will be tough to understand otherwise concepts disputing God, and the relevance of belief. The past year has been a challenging and fulfilling one for me personally. There have been reasons to be joyful, but within these moments are long durations of doubt and uncertainties. Traveling across the world, from Europe to North America to Africa, in the quest to fulfill a purpose I have embraced. Have I found meaning? Am I fulfilling my purpose? I’m on it, and that’s where hope comes alive!

What does hope mean to you? Nigeria just concluded a general election, and as funny as it sounds, the ruling party campaigned with the slogan: “Renewed Hope.” This is funny because the ruling party which has been in power for about 8 years is saying, “During our eight years, we killed your hope for a better nation, give us another chance and we will renew the hope we killed.” That is, reward our failure with more trust and responsibility for hope. Lol. The experiences of millions of people in my part of the world are the reasons why I suggest atheists must be the strongest persons on earth. There is no security, there is no job, there is no growth opportunity, but somehow, a people build their hope in God, strongly believing that God is their guide and safety, that God is their provider, that God is their refugee, and for all it’s worth, God fulfills these hopes. Wait, are there atheists in Nigeria? Of course, there will be. How do Nigerian atheists do it?

I’m reflecting on my life so far, and I see how hoping in God has kept me progressing. At every point it seemed difficult, God made a way. I do not necessarily ask God for this way, but I see the path. This is a new year for me, and I wish to express my thankfulness. I saw a quotation attributed to Hazrat Inayat Khan: “I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong. I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to learn to solve. I asked for prosperity and God gave me a brain and brawn to work. I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome. I asked for love and God gave me people to help. I asked for favors and God gave me opportunities. I received nothing I wanted. I received everything I needed.”

Happy Birthday to myself!

#AmaraizuGenius #April25