Dear Ezinne Zara...

Letters to Ladies Who've Changed My Life…#1

Preface

This is a letter I’ve written directly to Ezinne Zara. She is a writer, digital creator and entrepreneur based in Lagos, Nigeria; whose love and dedication to Jesus Christ has profoundly inspired me.

My prayer is that she’ll read this and know that she has not laboured in vain. I pray she’ll know that her sacrifice and obedience have made a real difference in the lives of others. I pray she’ll be encouraged to keep going.

As for the Beloved (my readers), in sharing this on Substack, my hope is that you’ll read it and see how even little steps of obedience can change the lives of those around you. You never know the great impact that one conversation, one post, or even one kind gesture will have on someone else’s life.

In addition to that, Ezinne’s content has been a hope, joy and comfort to me in many troubling times. Perhaps you’re going through some of the struggles I’ve experienced, and will also be blessed by having her content shared with you.

Thank you as always for reading and supporting me,

I love you guys so much!

— Elsie

ezinne.zara

A post shared by @ezinne.zara

---

Dear Ezinne Zara,

I decided to take the time to write to people whose obedience to Christ has impacted my life in a pivotal way, and you are one of them.

I know you often say that you don’t like the phrase “being in the public eye” because your life hasn’t changed much. You still consider yourself to be an ordinary girl. While others may want to place you on a pedestal, you wish to keep a pure heart and live for Your Creator, Your Lover, and Your Best Friend.

That said, there is no doubt that, your obedience in showing up and creating content which elevates Christ before the nations has sincerely changed my life.

The First Time…

I remember the day I first encountered your page. It was on July 11th, 2022. I had just dropped off my mom at the airport, and as I rode home on the train wiping tears from my eyes I picked up my phone and checked my Instagram.

As I perused through the Stories, I noticed that someone had shared a post about someone called “@orangewriter” (now it’s @ezinne.zara). I’d never heard of you before, but I was drawn and decided to visit your page. As I clicked through your profile, I came across your blog “Bible Diary” and I was intrigued.

The post Which Is Most Important? particularly caught my eye and when I began reading I couldn’t stop. The tears flowed afresh, this time not because of my mom’s departure, but rather because you had so beautifully captured my feelings towards balancing one’s public and private ministry. I didn’t have the words to express it, or even identify it at the time, but it was something I’d been really struggling with— and frankly, have continued to struggle with— for a long time.

“It took a while before I realised the mistake I had made by abandoning the private in favour of the public and in repentance, I swung back severely in the opposite direction, resenting anything to do with a public life, wanting to be left alone with The Lord and to begin picking up what was left of the broken fragments of our intimate relationship. The Lord allowed me. I was hurting and working through human experiences and I remember The Lord saying to me one day, “I understand that you are human. Human beings are creatures of extremes. You took one end of a position and now you’ve catapulted yourself to another end but I am patient with you because I know you will find balance. Do not rush yourself through this or you’ll be back where you started. Allow yourself to heal and to gently find balance.”

— Ezinne Zara, Excerpt from “Which Is Most Important”

“Human beings are creatures of extremes…”

“I am patient with you because I know you will find balance…”

“Allow yourself to heal and to gently find balance…”

The words washed over me like a soothing balm, I felt like the Spirit was ministering each word to my soul— calming, comforting, healing.

I was prone to acting quickly and running headlong into things without first counting the cost. Without thinking about what went wrong the last time and how I would avoid those pitfalls going forward. And without giving myself time to heal. As a result, I kept finding myself in a perpetual cycle of frustration.

I can’t explain how much reading your post, and feeling SEEN and RELATED to meant to me. I wasn’t alone. I wasn’t crazy. Someone else was struggling too. Someone else had gone to the extremes, and there was hope for us both.

I was reminded of the fact that I have the victory in Christ, and felt encouraged that with the continuous help of the Holy Spirit gently guiding me, I would find balance in each season of my life.

My Role Model…

There were times when I wanted to be just like you. I looked up to you like a younger sister would her older sister, and frankly, sometimes I still do. Sometimes I’ve thought to myself, “I want to do what Ezinne is doing”. I’ve often looked to you as a template of how to share my faith on YouTube, and how to build the platforms God has given me. But at times, I would feel this quiet nudging in my heart from the Holy Spirit tell me, “You are not Ezinne...”

It was a good thing to learn from you and be inspired by you, but I was never designed to be you. Logically, I knew this of course. But when you feel like you have no idea who you are, and you crave any semblance of a stable and clear identity; it can be easy to try and model your life after a person, rather than diligently seek and trust the Lord to reveal each step in His timing.

I didn’t do a good job of heeding that nudge from the Spirit, but then one day I vividly remember you saying in one of your videos or podcast episodes,

“God doesn’t want another Bible Diary…”

The message was that God doesn’t want copies of what He’s already done in the earth. He’s made each person with a special plan and unique destiny and we are not meant to be someone else.

Like the Scripture says,

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor 2:9 NKJV)

I find it funny that God used the very person I was trying to emulate, to communicate to me the importance of being myself.

On Comparison…

I’ll admit there were times when I sunk into comparison. When I would look at you and others and think of how consistent you were with your content, the various experiences and opportunities you’d been opened to, and the depth of your intimacy with God. I would sit and compare my lack of action, with the fruits of your labour.

I remember a video in which you vulnerably shared how at one point in your journey you also struggled with comparison and you would look at others who were doing great work, and wished you could be where they were. As tough as I’m sure it was for you to admit, I was so grateful that you did, because it gave me permission to admit it too!

I remember you emphasizing that we often compare our Day 1 with someone’s Year 40. These people we are comparing ourselves to have been doing what they’ve been doing for a long time. They’ve sacrificed a lot of time and put in the hard work necessary to be where they are. And while we waste time comparing, we miss out on the opportunity to get started on what the Lord wants us to do. I also remember you sharing that God told you to genuinely pray for the person you were envying, and you soon found yourself free of those negative feelings. That has been an invaluable lesson to me. Thank you :)

A Few Things I’ve Learned from You…

In closing, I’d like to share a few more lessons I’ve learned since I began following you:

• I learned the importance of excellence as a creator generally, but more importantly, as a child of God.

• I learned the importance of starting, doing, learning as you do, and improving.

• I learned to slow down, plan and count the cost of a project. I learned that these ideas are not my own, and I’m a steward of that which the Lord lays on my heart to build.

• I learned that one does not have to pigeonhole themselves. God can call you to be and do many things. You also don’t need to succumb to the ideas others have of who you should be.

• I got to see how authentically giving of yourself, and showing up consistently could lead to miracles and win the hearts of people.

• I got to see how God could move in the hearts of people to provide for our every need, especially when the goal is to do His will. There were people who you’d never met, praying for you; and I heard testimony after testimony of people donating equipment, money, and resources to enable you to keep doing the great work you do.

• I learned that it was okay to take breaks and that I didn’t have to do social media the way the world was doing it. I learned that it was okay to rest and take time away. I didn’t have to cater to an algorithm but just had to focus on the leading of the Spirit.

• I learned that I need not fear when it comes to marriage because when the time is right the Lord Himself will make it happen (even if He has to confirm it to me multiple times).

• You reinforced the fact that my obedience matters. That everything I desire is on the other side of my obedience. That the seemingly little, or inconsequential tasks God is asking me to do, could affect the lives and destinies of many. That, while I may not see or understand it now, my decisions and actions carry eternal implications.

• I learned that I don’t have to wait to live, and that I am not too young to be greatly used by God.

Ezinne, you’ve improved so much since I began following you, and the Lord continues to make your life a sign and a wonder. Thank you for saying yes to His call. Thank you for reaffirming that yes each day. Thank you for paying the price of a consecrated life. Thank you for the many sacrifices we’ll never know you’ve made. Thanks, not only to you, but to your husband, family, mentors, team, and supporters, who continually make it possible for you to keep going and not give up.

Most importantly, thank you to our Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and Precious Holy Spirit, who fashioned you before the foundations of this world and elected you for this calling. I thank God for continually keeping you close to Himself, guiding your steps, and protecting you all the while. I thank Him, for how He has, and continues to, make your life so beautiful.

God bless you always,

Written with love,

Elsie Abang

---

Some Video Recommendations for the Beloved

God wants to give you a new beginning

“seeking first the Kingdom of God" will change your life

What I do when I'm alone with my lover (it’s Jesus lol)

we’re not friends anymore — that's okay (friendship in your 20s) | ELSM Podcast Ep.13

If you’d like to support Ezinne Zara:

Check out her website: https://ezinnezara.com/

Follow her podcast: https://ezinnezara.com/podcast/

Give: https://ezinnezara.com/support/

Connect with her on Socials!

Her Personal Instagram: @ezinne.zara

The Community Instagram: @truchristianity