Each of us has the opportunity to choose the paths that are laid before us. Sometimes we tend to lean toward the easier path, even knowing that it may not be the best path. God’s path may not always be the easiest, but it is certainly more victorious!
Jesus tells us in John 16:33 . . . These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. Tribulations in this world include many different struggles, ranging from our own personal sins to the tragedies of losing a loved one. But Jesus tells us to take heart, to have courage, for in Him we can be victorious.
In the story below, Vera struggled daily with her mother’s anger toward her. The anger didn’t come from something that Vera had done to her mom, but instead by choosing the path of Christ. Persecution from a loved one, especially from a mother, can be a heavy load to carry every day. The load continues to grow heavy until your eyes are opened to the blessings that God begins placing before you, as you live faithfully in following His ways. His path for us may not always be what we are hoping for, or even expect, but His plans give us a hope and a future full of the peace that only He can provide. Please pray for Vera and her family as they build their home on the love of Christ, so that their children will always feel the warmth from a loving mom, and more importantly, the love of Christ. “They live in in peace and love, enjoying the family that God has given them.” SGA Storyteller Tatiana shares Vera’s story . . .
From persecution to blessing…
I write to you today about Vera, a woman who chose the path of Christ with all her heart, despite the opposition of her family. Her story is a testimony of God’s grace and the blessing of walking in the light, even when the path is difficult.
Vera was born in a modest village near Chișinău, into a family lacking many material things, but especially the warmth of a loving mother. Even still, as a teenager, God touched her heart, and she chose to follow Christ. This decision was not at all easy, because it aroused the anger of her mother, who rejected her and even threw her out of the house. Alone and without support, Vera returned after a night of wandering, but years of quarrels and suffering awaited her at home.
For three years, Vera lived in the midst of a constant struggle for her faith. Her mother did not want to accept that her daughter was attending the Baptist church, and the pressure was sometimes overwhelming. But Vera did not give up. Prayer and trust in God were her support.
Once she began her studies at the Chisinau Sports University, things changed. Moving to the capital gave her the freedom to worship without fear, to participate in Bible groups, and to build an ever-deeper relationship with the Lord.
At the age of 22, God gave her a believing husband, Victor, a young man from the same church. Together, they embarked on a journey full of trials, but also blessings. Without material support from their parents, they faced many financial difficulties. But they were never alone. God took care of them, and with patience and hard work, they built a stable life.
Today, Vera and Victor are the parents of two wonderful children. Together they raise them in biblical teaching, in the love and fear of the Lord. They live in Chisinau and live in peace and love, enjoying the family that God has given them.
God does not abandon those who trust in Him. Vera is living proof that, no matter how hard the battle, victory belongs to those who choose Christ. ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).’