You Don’t Have To Settle For Second Best!

I will not forget this day… the day my wife and I made a commitment to my cousins that changed our lives completely.

It was a nice, warm spring day when we met my cousins at a park. We did not realise back then that the day would bring the same warmth and brightness into our lives. My cousins spoke about Jesus and how He is able to radically transform our lives. We chatted and they prayed with us. They invited us to join them for the service at Church the following day. I remember the words so clearly that my cousin uttered: “Remember this day. You will not forget it.”

We were still followers of the Hindu faith; we prayed daily and did the necessary prayers our religion required of us. We both had good incomes, lived in a comfortable home and had the comforts life had to offer. But, we were not happy!

Our children became disconnected with each other and whatever attempts we made to reconcile them was futile. The rift became greater and this began to affect all our relationships. Subsequently, our youngest child began to suffer from depression and began to make poor choices, which spiralled into alcohol and drug dependency.

We were stressed and anxious, often angry and disappointed in life. We were not happy at all. Although we did what we could to mend the strain in the family, all attempts to help our youngest, was met with refusal to seek help, denial and verbal outbursts.

As a couple we became ashamed of our children and felt embarrassed to talk with others about the problems we were having, for fear of judgment. We withdrew from meeting people and became unhappy, dejected and disheartened. We felt that life was meaningless.

I was sick and tired of being sick and tired so in desperation I decided to call my cousins, whom I knew were followers of Jesus. I was nervous as we felt insecure. Our cousins did not hesitate to reach out to us. Within two hours they were at our house.  We chatted and they prayed for us. After their departure, we felt like a burden had lifted off us.

Our cousin then set up a meeting for the following Saturday to talk more about our sad state of affairs and despondency. That day at the park, we accepted the challenge my cousin gave us. “Remember this day. You will not forget it.” So we accepted the invitation to go to church the following day. That was back in 2019.

We went to church and something stirred in out spirits and we went the next week and the next week. Something was happening! We wanted to go every week and we did. There was something there we couldn’t explain and we realised that the way to salvation was through Christ Jesus.

Within two months we were both baptised at church in front of the congregation. What a moment! There’s not enough words to describe how we felt. We have fully committed our lives to God and attend church regularly.

Has life changed? Our relationship with the eldest is still fractured but we feel assured that although we did our best to mend the relationship, God will work it out in His time. Our youngest eventually accepted Jesus as well and has been attending church and he is making a concerted effort to become a better person.

We now realise that God is directing us towards His plan. We don’t know what the future will be, but feel positive Jesus is intervening in this regard.

Once we accepted Jesus, there was an urge to read the Bible and attend Bible study. The teaching of Jesus’ love and selflessness inspired us to have a deeper relationship with Him. We completed a one year Bible study with my cousins, going through Genesis to Revelation.

We can truly say that Jesus is a friend we can talk to. We can ask for guidance, pray to Him and leave our worries with Him.

Friends, let me assure you that we feel God’s presence so mightily in our lives. Since then I have had three ‘encounters’ with Him and I feel so blessed. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” That is what we have done.

We get up each day in thanksgiving to our Lord. We still have issues and problems but through prayer we seek God’s intervention. It’s amazing how we feel so much relief and less burdened. We have the spirit to live the life we want, knowing that our Lord is guiding us. He is the true and one God that makes the impossible, possible!

Our outlook to life is positive and we surround ourselves with others who have also accepted Jesus in their life and walk in faith. Do you want to accept that challenge? Our lives are so transformed and so can yours!

R&R