About Dwain Awai

Born and raised on the beautiful tropical island of Trinidad before migrating to the United States for college at the age of 19, Dwain has a passion for empowering others, with the hope that they may discover the twin treasures of peace and forgiveness while fulfilling their true purpose on earth. 

Dwain graduated from Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration. He has more than ten years in the sales and customer service industry, where he has excelled because of his ability to genuinely connect with people and foster strong relationships based on trust, loyalty, and respect. Dwain's persistence and determination has also served him well in his career, and his “go-getter” attitude is due to - as he would say - “My family is depending on me! I am all they got!” 

Currently working and residing in the Central Florida area, Dwain’s life-long obsession to find “true happiness” has taken him on an exciting new journey where he plans to conduct seminars, host speaking engagements, and release a series of books outlining the lessons he has learned from his (and others') life experiences.

2019 Series: Guidelines to Get off the Sidelines

YOU WILL BE CROSSED BEFORE YOU ARE CROWNED!

“You will be crossed before you are crowned!”  What exactly does that mean? Well, let me take you back to the most important event in history—the birth and crucifixion of Jesus Christ—to explain what I mean. We all know the story, so I am not going to go deep and talk about every step in Jesus’ life from His birth to His execution, but I do want to provide a few key points.

Born in a stable amongst animals, the Lamb of God, was doubted, ridiculed, and disrespected by many. Jesus, the Shepherd and Servant of all mankind, was left deserted in the wilderness feeling alone, scared, and confused. Jesus, the Son of God, was wrongly accused, whipped, spat on, and eventually crucified. He was both betrayed and denied by two of the twelve disciples He personally taught and looked after; and several of the others ran off and abandoned Him when things got tough… when He needed them the most.

Jesus—despite the many miraculous acts of healings and deliverance He had performed time and time again—would experience all these trials and tribulations again and again over the short three years of His ministry on this earth before being crowned “King of kings” and “Lord of Lords”!

Nothing for Jesus came easy. And, although there wasn’t anything about His 33 years of life that would demonstrate a life of ease or privilege, if even Jesus—who was everything we needed or ever hope to be—was crossed throughout His life, then what is one of the most important lessons we can learn here?

A vital take-away was Jesus’ acceptance of His crossings, despite having to experience tremendous pain and embarrassment. He understood that His willingness to endure these trying times would be necessary not only for Him to receive His crown, but also so that we could be placed into a position to receive ours. Matthew 26:38-39 further explains this important lesson:

Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

So, what this means for us is that we have to first accept the fact that before we can experience our victories and the rewards for our accomplishments (crown)—regardless of how big or small it may be—we will also need to contend with some form of trial, tribulation, difficulty, or challenge (crosses). Therefore, knowing this, we have to “accept” the reality of our “tough times” It is a must; it is a fact. It is inevitable.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to

his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

~1 Peter 5:10 ESV

Now, do not get confused! 

When I say accept it, I do not mean that you should simply surrender, succumb, or capitulate to these trials and just “throw your hands up” in defeat with the mindset that your current situation will be your permanent destination. 

No way! 

Jesus did not give up during His trying times. Even when He was at His lowest, He held fast to the promise that was before Him…the prize—the crown—and continually looked to God to save Him… to deliver Him. No, He recognized that His current situation (His crossing) was necessary to get to His final destination (His crown).

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ~Matthew 16:24-26 NIV

Therefore, you cannot give up and become defeated during trying times. Instead, you just have to dig deep, trust the process, and know that these crossings are necessary for you to receive your crown!  we now enjoy was “un-fair” arrests, countless occasions of physical, emotional, and mental abuses, as well as the ultimate price of his very life!