what is Life?

Well, the Lock-downs are getting lifted. Travels within many countries are being permitted. I took advantage of that to travel to some villages of Uganda. I had different interactions with people. When I met this particular person, I didn’t know how to feel anymore. Her faith is amazing, but her life is painted with many sad moments. I was supposed to rejoice with her because of her faith, but her touching story caused me to react otherwise.

Here is her story (Her personal details are concealed upon her request):

“I used to believe in God. I trusted Him even though I had not really put my trust to test. I was taught to trust in Him right from my childhood.

When I got married, I got two miscarriages within three months. For the next two years, I didn’t get any pregnancy. My mother in law turned sour against me, with tough words. My husband kept consoling me with Sarah’s situation in the bible. I didn’t pray, I was not so good with prayers, but my husband sought God for my sake all the time.

As years went by, God gave us more and more children. I felt like a normal African woman. My shame was taken from me. My dignity was restored, but all these were just preparing me for a harder future.

Twenty-eight years later, my first son got married, he got no child in his marriage. Later, my other sons got married. Out of four sons who got married, only one has been blessed with kids. I sought God for my three sons, but no voice could be heard, no child seen.

At this point, I doubted if what the bible says is really true. I doubted if what God said about “ask and it shall be given” is true. My pain grew more within my heart. All my pride went away for the second time. I felt like I shouldn’t have witnessed such days in my life. In-fact, relative to my days when I had no children, I feel this is much worse. I feel like all my labor and toil is for nothing.

I still believe that the same God who heard my cry many years ago, the same that heard my lovely husband’s prayer, the same will also hear me for my children’s sake. This is the hope, the only hope I hold to. But sometimes the pain of the reality that I see shadows my hope. The rejoicing of my enemies in my pain consumes the joy of my salvation.

I know God is a God. He does not change. Since He did wonderful things for others, I believe that someday, He will also do for my children. It will be for the glorification of His name.

If I believe in Him, and He chooses to grant me the fruit of my belief, I feel more glad. If I don’t believe Him, what if the key is in my belief? That means I’d miss the restoration of my days.“

Days will keep changing. moments will keep changing. there’re days when we feel like we’ve achieved it, only to watch our dreams scatter like grains of sand. The statement, “If I don’t believe Him, what if the key is in my belief?” is a sweet reminder that there’s nothing much one loses if they believe. On the contrary, unbelief may cost a lot.