Sylvia NabisenkeChallenges are an altar of remembrance of God’s faithfulness. When I got married in February 2009, I didn’t realize that God was setting me up for a life changing experience. Two weeks after the wedding, my job as a General Manager in one telecom business was no more. I didn’t feel the pinch then because I had a husband to look up to for financial support. As a newly married, I concentrated on building my family and being the house wife that I had so long dreamt of being.
Two months down the road, my husband woke up one morning, went to work and never returned home. Like every human, I went into panic. I couldn’t believe the fact that marriage could end in such an oblivious manner. I cried every single day until my body wasted away. I later suffered from a severe depression and often tried to commit suicide. I didn’t think there was any meaning to life. I couldn’t comprehend the reason why God had in all his power had allowed this to happen. The more I thought about God’s “unfair” treatment, the more I lost meaning to life. My close friends with whom I partied and shared so many things in the past deserted me. I was left all alone but found a lot of comfort in knowing that God promised never to leave us nor forsake us.
Desperate means require desperate actions. I was advised by some friends to try witchcraft and others prayer or violence if the two didn’t work. I looked back and remembered the day I made a commitment to follow Christ. I remembered how God had seen me through very dark days. Although this seemed like the darkest season, in my heart of hearts I knew that God was more than able to sort me out. I moved from one pastor to the next seeking quick answers, prophecies and assurance that all would be well.
I then embarked on prayer. My house became a prayer altar and because I had no job, I spent hours and days on my knees. My bible was always soaked in tears but I knew someday my answer would come. I got a lot of encouragement from the story of Daniel in the Lion’s den, Joseph in prison and the famous sufferer Job. Psalms 18 became my song, day and night. I repented and cried out to God. I pledged and re-pledged my allegiance to the Kingdom of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
One day as I moved around, I bumped into an old friend, also an intercessor who introduced me to this ministry. I was invited for a lunch hour fellowship which I attended and God started revealing things about my life, some dating back to my childhood days. I wasn’t very happy after that service because my need was only help for my marriage. Once I walked out of the church, I went home and addressed the spiritual issues that had been raised. I then stayed home waiting for God to restore my marriage but this didn’t happen. Three months later, I was called for another lunch hour meeting in which a twenty one day prayer and fasting season had been declared. I actively participated in the prayer but still got no answer. It was during this season that I made a declaration to God, “If I die, let me die but in your presence” I was going no where. In fact, after reading Jacob’s story of how he wrestled with God, I made a decision to do the same until I got a break through. While everyone was rushing home for Christmas, I stayed behind at the altar and waited upon the Lord in prayer and fasting for forty days. I pleaded with God for mercy until after forty days I got peace. I started putting on some weight, smiled once in a while and felt an inner assurance that all would be well.
Two months later, I was called for temporary job at the Parliament. On one of those days when I was going to work, I saw a rainbow in the sky and heard a voice that said, “ the mark of a new season”. I didn’t understand anything at the time but on that very day, I got a call from a big telecommunications company inviting me for an interview. I had no more anxiety because I trusted God and knew that in his time, he would make all things beautiful. I went into the interview room and claimed the job.
I didn’t hear from the human resource personnel until after two weeks inviting me for another interview. I informed my prayer team and we continued praying and believing God. A month later, I was told the job had been given to another lady who was slightly better than I. I still didn’t despair but kept proclaiming the Lord’s goodness. It was one Friday evening when I received a call from the same company asking me to go and sign an employment contract because the previous person had issues with the police. Like Psalms 126, It felt like a dream.
God blessed me with a job better than my former, gave me privileges that I never imagined I would ever have and brought new friends along the way.
It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in my eyes. He is faithful in all his ways so all we have to do is trust and obey. It doesn’t matter how much one has cried, he has promised to wipe away our tears. The period of suffering or magnitude is nothing compared to the power that our God has.
To him be Glory now and for ever.
