The Crowded Heart

In the heart of Oluwada Village, where children played with old tires and chickens ran across sandy roads, lived a boy named Tomiwa. He was 13, loved football, music, and his new talking drum.

Tomiwa’s parents loved God and always prayed together. They often said,
“God speaks, but only those with quiet hearts hear Him.”

Tomiwa wanted to hear God too. So he began waking up early to pray, carrying his Bible everywhere, and writing down memory verses.

But slowly… things began to change.

🎧 Noise Upon Noise

Tomiwa joined a new WhatsApp group. They shared jokes, played online games, and talked for hours.
He also started following a popular influencer who said things like:

“God is old news. Just believe in yourself!”

At school, his friends talked about who was dating who, who was “crushing”, and which party to attend.
Tomiwa laughed along. He didn’t want to feel left out.

Soon, his Bible stayed under his bed. His memory verses faded. His prayers became short.
He didn’t even notice… his heart had become crowded.

The Dream That Changed Everything

One night, Tomiwa had a dream. He was in a garden, full of tall weeds, loud music, flashing lights, and people talking all at once.

In the middle was a small light. It flickered weakly and called his name softly.
“Tomiwa… Tomiwa…”

But he couldn’t hear it well. The noise around him was too much.

He woke up sweating.

His Heart Begins to Clear

That morning, he knelt and cried.
“God, is that how You’ve been calling me and I couldn’t hear?”

He remembered a verse his mummy once made him memorize:

“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10

He also opened his Bible and saw:

“The worries of this life… choke the word, making it unfruitful.” – Matthew 13:22
(The Parable of the Sower)

“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27

From that day, Tomiwa began removing the weeds from his heart.

• He reduced screen time.

• He left groups that added noise, not value.

• He spent more quiet moments praying, journaling, and listening.

And slowly… the light in his dream began to shine brighter in his real life.

💡 Lessons for Every Child and Teen

1. God is always speaking, but a noisy heart cannot hear Him.

2. Distractions can be good things, like friends and fun—but if they crowd our hearts, we miss God’s voice.

3. Make time for stillness. God whispers in quiet places.

4. Clean your heart often. Like a garden, your heart needs weeding.

5. Don’t be afraid to stand out. Even if others don’t understand, your relationship with God is worth it.

📖 Key Scriptures to Remember:

• Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”

• Matthew 13:22 – “The worries of this life… choke the word.”

• John 10:27 – “My sheep hear my voice…”

• Proverbs 4:23 – “Guard your heart above all else…”