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The Unseen Battles (Based on a true life story)

Etim and his wife, Nneka, sat outside in the cool of the evening, relaxing after a long day’s work and a sumptuous meal of pounded yam and vegetable soup she had lovingly prepared.

The compound was their haven. Its large mango tree cast a comforting shade where tenants often gathered to gist or enjoy the fresh evening breeze.

Under its branches, Etim and Nneka chatted happily, their laughter mingling with the rustle of leaves as they reminisced about their early days in the village before moving to the city for a better life.

Their peace was shattered when the landlord, Baba Afolabi, a wiry man in his 60s with a perpetual scowl stormed toward them.

“Mr. Man, I’ve come here twice today looking for you, but you weren’t around,” he barked, his voice sharp as a machete.

“Haven’t I warned you and your wife to stop disturbing the peace of this compound with your midnight noise?”

“Baba, good evening, sir,” Etim said, rising respectfully, his voice steady despite the accusation.

“Don’t greet me. There’s nothing good about this evening,” Baba Afolabi snapped, folding his arms.

Nneka’s eyes widened, but she spoke softly. “Sorry, sir. But we don’t make noise at night. We use the visitor’s room for prayers; it’s enclosed, and we keep our voices low. How are we disturbing you, sir?”

“That’s not my business. Just stop troubling my peace!” he shouted before storming off, muttering under his breath. Etim and Nneka exchanged a worried glance. This wasn’t the first time Baba Afolabi had accused them.

Three times in the past month he’d confronted them, each time more hostile than the last. Yet they knew they weren’t guilty. Something wasn’t right.

That night, as Etim rose for their usual midnight prayers, he felt an unusual prompting from the Holy Spirit: “Take a prayer walk around the compound.”

It wasn’t his habit. Prayers were always indoors quiet, private. The thought of roaming the compound at night, risking Baba Afolabi’s wrath, made his stomach churn. But the urging in his spirit was undeniable. He obeyed.

Stepping out quietly, he whispered prayers while walking around the compound. Near the mango tree, where neighbors often gathered, the Holy Spirit opened his eyes.

Hidden among the roots was a small shrine, its clay pot and cowrie shells glinted faintly in the moonlight and two dark figures stood at the entrance.

Fear gripped him, but his prayers surged, fiercer now, fueled by faith. After the revelation, he hurried back inside, where Nneka joined him in fervent prayer.

At dawn, a heavy knock rattled their door. “Etim! Etim!”
“Who’s there?” he called, heart pounding. “Open this door!”
Recognizing Baba Afolabi’s voice, Etim opened cautiously. “Good morning, Baba.”

The landlord’s eyes blazed. “What do you think you’re doing, Mr. Man? Who sent you message? Why are you scattering my house?”

“Baba, calm down. What are you saying? I’ve been inside my house. How did I scatter your house?” Etim asked, bewildered.

“I’m warning you! Stop troubling me, or I’ll send you packing. In fact, you have one month to leave. You’ve troubled me enough!”

“Oga landlord, we paid two years’ rent just three months ago. How can you drive us out? Where will we find another house in one month?” Etim’s voice trembled.

“That’s not my business. I’ve said my own!” Baba Afolabi stormed off, leaving a cloud of tension behind.

From that day, life in the compound became unbearable. Baba Afolabi’s harassment grew relentless; daily insults, banging on their door, threats of eviction. He even offered to refund their rent, but Etim and Nneka, determined to stand their ground, refused.

Then the battle turned darker. Strange objects appeared at their doorstep: a red cloth tied with charms, a plate of palm oil sprinkled with salt, a small calabash filled with feathers. Each discovery chilled Etim, but he clung to his faith.

One evening, Nneka fell ill. A fever gripped her. Doctors found no cause, yet her strength waned. Etim knew it wasn’t ordinary. Kneeling by her side, he prayed: “Lord, fight for us. You see what we cannot. Deliver us.”

God did not delay.

Days later, as Etim returned from work, he noticed a crowd near the mango tree. His first thought was celebration, perhaps a neighbor’s naming ceremony.

But Mama Ngozi pulled him aside. “Etim, Baba don die o.” “Which Baba?” he asked, his heart skipping. “Baba Afolabi, the landlord.”

“Jesus!” Etim staggered, knees weak. “Lord, I only asked You to fight for us, not to kill him. This… this is too much.” His mind reeled, torn between awe and guilt. “Etim!” Mama Ngozi called again, snapping him back. “I’m going to greet the family. Will you come now or later?”

“I’ll come later,” he murmured.

Hurrying home, he expected to find Nneka bedridden.

Instead, a neighbor told him she had risen that morning, healed as if the fever never existed.

She was already at Baba Afolabi’s house, consoling his grieving family with compassion.

Etim sat quietly, staring at the mango tree through his window.

Truly, the God who works in mysterious ways had finished His work on Etim’s matter.

The End.

Dear reader,
what is your situation like, are you being harassed by men or oppressed and troubled by forces?

Call upon the name of the Lord because as many as call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. God bless you.

Question for the day;
If you were Nneka, Etim's wife, would you have visited the landlord's family when you knew so well that the landlord was the cause of your sickness? Let's hear you in the comments

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Olivia and her mum walked towards the car after picking up a few things from the mall. Olivia had seen a beautiful dress at the mall and wanted it badly. She pleaded with her mum to get it, but her mum refused.

"This gown is really pretty, Olivia, but I don't want it for you," her mum said. "Why? My graduation is in two weeks, and I have nothing new to wear," Olivia protested. "Don't worry about it, darling; you'll get something to wear," her mum replied.

"But this is the best I've seen so far; what could possibly be finer than this one?" Olivia argued.
"Olivia, let's go already," her mum said, walking towards the door of the mall. "But mum...," Olivia stood, obviously unhappy. "I said let's go," her mum repeated without looking back.

They both walked out of the mall to the car with the items they had bought. Olivia sulked all the way home. Everyone at home noticed she was sad, unlike the cheerful Olivia they knew.

The next week at school, her classmates kept talking about the outfits their parents had gotten them for their valedictory service. "Guys, my dress is ready; my mum got me one of those expensive collections from Veekee James. It's a fully beaded gown; you won't believe it until you see it, but you'll definitely love it," Tolani said with an air of pride.

"Well, mine wasn't as expensive as Veekee's collections, but I got something really beautiful; you guys have to see it," Goodness said. Everybody kept talking about shoes and clothes, and Olivia was lost in thought.

"Olivia, you're not saying anything; what about your dress?" Simi cut into Olivia's thoughts after noticing how quiet she was. "You guys will have to excuse me," she said, walking out of class.

She headed straight for the restroom to let out the tears that had gathered in her eyes. "God, this is not fair; see all my classmates; everyone is getting set for graduation; why am I the only one whose parents don't seem to care, especially at this time? It's not fair; it's really not fair."

School was just so boring the whole day. She didn't participate in the social activities lined up for the valedictory service. She just told them she wasn't feeling well. After school, she left immediately without waiting for any of her friends she used to walk with.

She got home quite early, and no one was home. She went into her room to force herself to sleep, perhaps she would forget her sorrows.

It was few days until her graduation. She had loosened up, stopped worrying about new clothes, dusted an old dress she had which was fair enough to wear, washed, ironed, and hung it neatly, and had polished her shoes ahead.

She woke up on the graduation morning, rolled on her bed to stretch a bit before standing up. She hit something hard; "Ouch, what's that on my bed?" she asked, opening her eyes. It was a box, and it was new. She hastily opened it and found some new shoes; they were the most beautiful her eyes had seen.

And at the foot of her bed was a beautiful gown. On it was a note:

"What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Mt 7:9-11).
I love you, darling; happy graduation.

From your heavenly Father (written by mum)."

Olivia was overwhelmed; she had wanted the gown she saw at the mall at all costs, yet the one her mum bought was way more beautiful. It was later she found that her mum had some slight issues with business that week, which was why she couldn't afford that dress at the time and she didn't also want to say it; she was praying to get something better than what was at the mall, and the Lord provided.

Olivia just knelt down on the floor and poured out her heart to God in thanksgiving, then ran to her parents' room and gave them the biggest hug.

********************
Dearly beloved,
What God wants to give you is better than what you want for yourself, it may just not come when you want it but God doesn't slack on his promises, the answer will definitely come and it will be better than what you expected.
Shalom!

Question for the day;
Share with me in the comments what you learned.