Faith Muscles 101నమూనా

Faith in ‘trouble times'

2011 was a difficult year. Here’s why:

Mildred and I were waiting and preparing for our dream wedding. It wasn’t going to be a fancy or an expensive one but we looked forward to it just like any other young couple would! Mildred is Filipino and I’m from South India and so you can imagine the planning that we had to do. Growing up in a traditional Indian family, I was nervous about what people would think about our cross-cultural marriage. However, breaking down these barriers - with our parents’ blessing - we moved ahead.

Now, my family wanted to meet Mildred and so she flew down to India from the Philippines. But just a few days after her arrival at my hometown in South India, we received a message saying that her dad was shot dead in the Philippines. We were absolutely shocked and she flew back immediately to fulfill her final duty to her father. This was six months before our wedding. It didn’t end here, though. Three months before our wedding, Mildred’s grandfather passed away and just seven days before we were to be wed, my dear mother died from a prolonged illness.

We were broken, totally devastated and traumatized, not having a clue of how to proceed. The pain of losing our dear ones was immeasurable. However, amidst the unimaginable loss of those precious to us, Mildred and I saw the hand of the Lord on our wedding and we can testify that He has blessed our marriage. Today, we serve God as a family.

Psalm 42:11 NIV:

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

We ask:

Why me? Why this is happening to me? Why now?

Let me tell you dear friends. No matter how difficult your situation may be, God is in it, He’s with you. He is your refuge.

The psalmist cried out, ‘For I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God’. What a beautiful lesson to learn. Sometimes when the burden’s heavy, we simply can’t pray, but we can praise.’

Take away:

Praise Him in troubled times.

Prayer:

Dear God, help me to face this situation. I pray for a breakthrough and I know You will come to rescue me. In Jesus' name, Amen.