When I began a postgraduate program, one of the first pieces of advice we received was to form small groups of co-authors—no more than four people. This was especially important for our Module Study Notes, which were fundamental to understanding course content and developing graduate-level writing skills.

These notes are not light work. They are time-consuming, detailed, and require the ability to comprehend and translate complex behaviour analytic concepts clearly. Naturally, forming a group seemed like the wise and necessary thing to do.

So I reached out, and soon, four of us came together.

Two of the ladies were already very fluent in ABA terminology and concepts. The other two—myself included—were still finding our footing. It felt balanced, like we could learn from one another.

But just before our second assignment was due, everything changed.

The two more experienced ladies informed us that they had decided to leave the group and work together as a duo instead, since they had similar schedules. Just like that, they were gone—leaving the other lady, who was also still trying to grasp the concepts, and me.

I won’t lie—I felt disappointed. Not because I didn’t know what to write, but because of the timing. The deadline was approaching, and we had about eleven questions to complete.

Our first assignment experience was far from smooth, though, and I suspect that may have been why the other two women eventually withdrew. We were required to collaborate on a shared Google document and submit a single link, which meant none of us could proceed without the others’ contributions. Unfortunately, one group member delayed significantly, submitting her portion just 30 minutes before the deadline. This left us anxious and rushed—especially with a quiz scheduled immediately afterward. Although I completed my part early, it lacked depth; it felt somewhat superficial as I was still struggling with understanding and presentation of concepts. I didn’t blame the other women; I would probably do the same if the tables were turned.

So now, here I was—facing another assignment, but this time with even less support and very little time. The first thing I did was pray. I remember saying out loud, “God, I need your help. I understand some of these concepts, but not all. Please help me.”

And in that quiet moment, a scripture rose in my heart: “By strength shall no man prevail.” (1 Samuel 2:9)

It was as if God was saying, “You won’t do this by your ability, not by your struggle—I will help you.” And He did.

I sat down with those eleven questions, and something shifted. Concepts that once felt heavy began to make sense. Ideas became clearer. Understanding came more easily than I expected.

Before I knew it, I had completed all eleven questions—by myself.

A few hours before the deadline, the other lady reached out and suggested we split the questions. But at that point, I encouraged her to work on hers separately.

That moment marked a turning point. It was the beginning of a new confidence—not in my own strength, but in what God could do through me.

I had figured out how to approach the questions and answer them correctly.

Then, just when I thought I had to carry everything on my own, which, of course, was overwhelming because I thought everyone had grouped up, God led me to a new group.

One of the ladies taking the course shared a post that she was looking for co-authors, and I reached out. She warmly welcomed me, and soon another woman joined us. Together, we became a trio, sharing the workload by dividing the questions among ourselves, which made the process far more manageable.

This time, it was different. There was alignment. There was ease. There was a shared understanding. And for the first time, I wasn’t just trying to keep up—I was contributing confidently.

It was such a gentle reminder that God doesn’t just bring you through difficult moments…

He also places you where you can thrive.

Looking back, I see it clearly now: What felt like rejection was actually redirection.

What felt like pressure was preparation. It was divine alignment. And through it all, one truth remains:

“Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 10:11)

Or as I like to say it: God no go shame us.

Here are a few truths this experience taught me:

✔ God steps in when people step out

✔ Pressure can reveal growth

✔ You don’t have to know everything — just trust God

— IDA