In a quiet Lagos neighborhood, two boys grew up just a few streets apart, yet their understanding of God could not have been more different. Their story reveals a deep spiritual truth many people ignore — the difference between the God we are taught and the God we personally discover.
The first boy, Chima, was raised in a strong religious home. Every morning began with family devotion, hymns, and verses repeated the way they had been taught for generations. His parents believed in “Our God” — the God of tradition, rules, and inherited understanding. They taught him the best way they knew, but only within the limits of what they themselves understood.
Across town, another boy, Dayo, lived a completely different life. He was an orphan who grew up mostly on the streets and in the homes of relatives who came and went. No one taught him how to pray. No one showed him which church to attend. But Dayo developed his own relationship with the divine — raw, pure, and without boundaries.
While Chima knew God through lessons, Dayo knew God through life.
One day, their paths crossed in secondary school. During break time, the students argued about who understood God better. Chima confidently quoted scriptures the way he was taught at home. Dayo listened quietly, then said something that silenced the entire class.
“Your parents taught you God from their own understanding,” he said. “Mine came from my own experiences. So your God has limits. My own doesn’t.”
The words shocked even Chima. It was the first time he realized he didn’t really know God for himself — he only knew the version his parents passed down.
Over time, the two boys became close friends. Chima learned to seek God beyond routine and tradition. Dayo learned structure and discipline for his spiritual gifts. But the biggest lesson came from a moment that neither of them forgot.
“You can inherit religion,” Dayo said, “but you cannot inherit understanding. Understanding is something you discover.”
Their story teaches a powerful truth: “Our God” can guide you, but “My God” transforms you. One gives you the path. The other gives you your footsteps.
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