We’re halfway through the year already. For some, that’s exciting as goals are being crushed, plans are working out, and momentum is strong. For others, it feels like the year is slipping away, and the energy that came with January 1st has long faded.
Wherever you find yourself on that spectrum, now is a great time to pause and ask: What will make me stand out in the months ahead? What is that one thing that will set you apart?
People everywhere are talking about pushing harder, resetting goals, and making the rest of the year count. And that’s good—we should strive to grow, improve, and use our time wisely.
But here’s something that’s often overlooked: beyond talent, ambition, and strategy, there’s one key ingredient that will truly set you apart, and that is God’s presence.
Look at this moment from Scripture:
One of them said he knew a young fellow in Bethlehem, the son of a man named Jesse, who was not only a talented harp player, but was handsome, brave, and strong, and had good, solid judgment. “What’s more,” he added, “the Lord is with him.” 1 Samuel 16:18 (TLB)
David had skill. He had strength. He had the look. But what made him stand out? God was with him.
Israel was home to numerous talented musicians. Music was a huge part of their culture. Yet, when King Saul was tormented and desperate for peace, only one name came up: David. Not because he was the best performer, but because he carried something supernatural.
It wasn’t the harp that calmed the king. It was the presence of God in David’s life that made his music powerful. That same presence helped him defeat Goliath. Those stones didn’t win the battle—God did.
So here’s the real question for you this season:
What’s the “one more thing” that sets you apart?
At your workplace, everyone may have the same qualifications. In your business, others may have more resources or experience. Among your friends, you may not be the most outgoing or popular. That’s okay. The X-factor is not your talent but God’s presence in your life.
Are you going to be just another name on the list, or will you be the one people look to because they sense something different about you? Peace. Wisdom. Clarity. Purpose. That’s what comes from living in God’s presence.
Maybe you’re in a relationship and your current “growth goal” is more romantic getaways or cute Instagram photos. Inasmuch as there is nothing wrong with that, what if you also focused on being the kind of person who brings spiritual strength to the relationship?
Or maybe you’re aiming to improve your image, career, or influence. Great! But beyond the surface, how’s your soul? Are you investing in the one thing that really lasts?
This season is full of opportunities—but it’s also full of distractions. Don’t get caught up in the noise. Refocus. Reconnect. God’s presence will bring clarity, direction, strength, and favor in ways you can’t manufacture on your own.
People may not always be able to put it into words, but they’ll notice. They’ll be drawn to the person who carries real peace, real power, and real purpose. That’s what David had. And it’s available to you too.
And when you truly walk with God, you’ll find that excellence follows. God’s Spirit doesn’t produce mediocrity. But His presence isn’t automatic, you have to pursue it. You have to practice being aware of God daily, in both quiet moments and busy ones.
So don’t let the second half of this year go by on autopilot.
Choose to be the one who carries the presence of God. That’s what will truly set you apart.
“So, when’s your flight?” I asked, already grinning as I imagined us finally catching up.
“Thursday evening,” Ada replied. “I couldn’t find a direct flight, so I’ll be stopping over in Dubai. I should get to Lagos by Saturday morning!”
Her excitement bounced right back at me through the phone. Ada and I go way back. She’s one of my closest friends. We’ve shared everything from hostel rooms to heartbreaks. I even stood by her side as her bridesmaid when she married her longtime love earlier this year. She had to leave for a work opportunity abroad soon after, and it’s been months since we’ve seen each other.
“Ah, someone is finally coming home to her oga at the top!” I teased.
“Abeg leave me jor!” she laughed. “You know I’ve been counting the days!”
We laughed like old times.
“So, how long are you stuck in Dubai?” I asked, curious.
“Ten hours,” she sighed. “I’m dreading it already.”
“Ten whole hours? That’s not beans, oh!” I exclaimed. “I hope you’ve figured out how to keep busy. Otherwise, that kind of wait can drag forever.”
“Oh, I have plans,” she said quickly. “I’ve got an online seminar scheduled during part of the layover, a couple of books to read, and I’ll probably catch up with you and Emeka while I’m there.”
“Perfect! That’s how to do it,” I said. “At least the time won’t just slip away in boredom.”
That chat with Ada stayed on my mind. It got me thinking about how so many singles are “waiting” in life, but in the wrong way.
Some hit pause on everything once they decide they want to get married. They put their dreams, growth, and even their joy on hold, like life will finally start after saying “I do.” That’s what passive waiting looks like – sitting still, hoping and praying for “someday,” but not doing much else in the meantime.
But that’s not how it should be. The waiting season is meant to be active. It’s a time to be fully alive, intentional, and fruitful. It’s the season to stretch, grow, and bloom right where you are.
During your waiting season, you:
Strengthen your walk with God by going deep in your relationship with Him.
Build emotional and spiritual maturity by growing your character and discernment.
Develop your skills by investing in talents and income-generating abilities.
Nurture meaningful connections by finding mentors, friends, and growing your community.
Step into purpose. You don’t wait for marriage to start walking in your calling.
Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:32 (NIV)
Notice the sequence: God’s word builds you up first, then comes the inheritance. Too many people want the reward without the work. But God is more interested in who you’re becoming than how quickly you arrive at the next destination.
Relationships thrive on time and connection, and your relationship with God is no different. The more time you spend with Him, the more you grow to trust and understand His ways.
The waiting season doesn’t have to be lonely or dull. It can be rich, full, and overflowing with purpose if you choose to engage it.
Let God take you places emotionally, spiritually, and mentally that you’ve never been before. This chapter of your life isn’t a filler, it’s a foundation. Build it well. And if you are already married, keep building.
Being single is not a waiting room for marriage; it’s a crucial, formative phase of life. How you use this time can shape your future, not just in terms of relationships but also your entire destiny. One of the most overlooked dangers during this period is idleness.
We see this clearly in the story of King David.
One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 2 Samuel 11:2 (NIV)
At a time when kings were expected to be at war, David stayed back. That seemingly innocent decision led to one of the most tragic moral failures in his life. Had he been where he was supposed to be, active, engaged, on duty, he likely wouldn’t have fallen into that situation.
This lesson is timeless. Many people fall into patterns of sin, confusion, or wasted time not because they’re inherently bad, but because they’re idle. When you’re not meaningfully engaged spiritually, mentally, or physically, you become vulnerable to poor decisions.
If you’re single and hoping to get married, your life should already be moving in a purposeful direction. You don’t need to have everything figured out, but you should be building something: a career, a skill, a vision, or a calling. Simply waiting around for divine clarity while doing nothing is not faith — it’s passivity.
Being “gainfully engaged” isn’t limited to holding a 9–5 job. It means you’re contributing to something meaningful. Volunteer. Serve in your community. Explore your calling. Be of value to God, to yourself, and others. A person with no purpose shouldn’t be looking for a partner to give their life structure. That’s not love; that’s dependency.
To every lady out there, vision isn’t just for men. As a woman, your life should have clarity and structure. Know what you stand for. Know what you’re working toward. That clarity helps you make better relationship choices. Don’t get into a relationship out of pressure or loneliness. And don’t entertain someone whose direction is misaligned with yours, even if they’re not a “bad” person. Compatibility is more than chemistry, it’s an alignment of purpose.
If you are already married, be intentional. Don’t treat your relationship lightly. Honor your commitment and remember why you started in the first place. Relationships thrive when they are nurtured with purpose, prayer, and partnership. A lack of attention, like Uriah’s unawareness, can open the door for trouble. Show up. Be present. Do the work.
“When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.” Isn’t that what they say?
But what if you aren’t tough enough, or not tough at all? Every human being encounters a season in life when breaking through feels impossible. Those seasons come in waves. It’s rarely just a one-time thing. Yet, in those moments of weakness and fragility, one thing remains true: we are made strong through God’s strength.
God understands exactly how you feel in your moments of frailty; the hopelessness and confusion when you’ve been believing Him for a good job, or trusting Him for the right partner. He knows, and that’s the truth.
If it weren’t true, the Bible wouldn’t highlight the weaknesses of our heroes of faith. We wouldn’t know that the man after God’s own heart made major mistakes. We wouldn’t read about how Peter was right one moment and rebuked the next. Those stories were recorded because God wanted you to know that, at the end of the day, we are all just human and we always need Him to make things right.
Hebrews 4:15 [NLT] This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
That’s your turning point. God is always a million steps ahead. He figured it all out before you were even conceived. He sent you a Helper: the Holy Spirit. I mean, who needs help if they already have it all figured out?
So yes, it’s okay not to know what to do, because you don’t always have to. The Bible tells us not to lean on our own understanding. Why? Because even when we think we have the answers, God always knows best.
Bottom line: You need to be vulnerable before Him and always seek His face, because His strength is made perfect in your weakness, and you can always lean on Him.
Sarah, the wife of Abraham, had passed away. She had been his companion for many years through every journey, every promise, every joy, and heartache. And Abraham did what anyone would do after losing someone they love deeply: he wept. He didn’t avoid his grief. He sat in it, felt it, and honored her with his tears.
Genesis 23:2-3 – “And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth…”
But then, he stood up.
Not because the sorrow disappeared, or because he stopped loving her, but because life was still moving forward. There were things to be done, and a future that still held God’s promises.
And Abraham stood up from before his dead These words are a reminder that grief is real and necessary, but so is rising again. Many of us have sat too long beside the memories of what we’ve lost, whether it’s a person, a dream, or a part of ourselves.
Just like the bible says, there’s a time to mourn, and there’s also a time to rise.
Getting up doesn’t mean forgetting. It means choosing not to stay stuck. It means believing that God’s plan for your life isn’t over, even when it feels like something important is gone.
Maybe your “Sarah” was a relationship, a job, a chapter of life, a contract, or a version of yourself you miss. Whatever it is, know this: you can grieve, and you can also move forward.
