May you be encouraged as you read these true life stories of my Christian friends (names changed) who are running the race of faith that has been carved out for them by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name. Amen

Rachel – Born and raised a devout catholic, this lovely lady started her walk with Christ at an early age. She soon got trapped in an unequally yoked relationship. She wrestled really hard to fully come out of it. I saw it first hand how she would cry and flood the altar with her tears.  Her only prayer request was that her handsome boyfriend, Marc should get saved. Some Church elders advised her to go ahead and get married and some denounced the relationship. Rachel struggled a lot. We were close and so I know that she loved Marc. Marc was also born and raised a catholic. Their parents knew each other and everything on the outside screamed “compatible”. But Marc could not match the hunger Rachel had for Lord Jesus. He had absolutely no interest in the Church and deep within Rachel knew Marc was not the one from Lord Jesus.
Around this time, my project was nearing completion. I was getting ready to move to a new assignment and to a new location. Rachel would often drop by and assist me in winding up. Soon we parted ways.
After a few years, I heard again about Rachel through a common friend. I came to know that Rachel took a step of faith and let go of Marc. She waited on the Lord and He honoured her faith and blessed her with a God fearing partner.

Paul – Bro Paul is much older than me.  But in the Church, his hunger for Lord Jesus cannot go unnoticed. Paul has a beautiful family – his wife Esther, a worship leader and their teenaged children- a daughter and a son who are actively involved in various Church ministries. A happy Christian family! Then Paul quits his job and moves into full time ministry. I want to highlight that Sister Esther is an anointed worship leader and I have felt ( and seen) the Holy Spirit move mightily during her worship sessions.
Fast forward seven to ten years: Bro Paul’s friend gets close to Sister Esther. So, Paul and Esther separate. It takes a toll on Bro Paul’s health and he suffers a heart attack which he survives only by Gods’ grace. Their daughter gets married while still in her teens and a year later she gets divorced.
Present scenario: Bro Paul and Sister Esther have not reconciled. They continue to hold grudges against one another. How satan has ruined, once such a God fearing and lovely Christian family! 

Jenny – My mom’s friend, Jenny was raised a catholic. I heard that while Jenny was still in her teens, she got into a relationship with an unbeliever (of another faith). She had a child with him out of wedlock. The guy never married her, cheated on Jenny and left her for another woman.
Her struggle: When I met Jenny, her teenaged son, Aaron was the trouble-maker in most Church gatherings. Although her son did not show interest in Christian faith, Jenny joined the ministry full time. She suffered a lot of humiliation as she raised a bashful Aaron single handedly. But her pain led her to cleave to Lord Jesus even more. She went around the city sharing Christs’ love and gradually the Holy Spirit started touching many lives through her. Many unbelievers embraced Jesus through her street preaching. Jenny also did hospital visitations. She was a broken vessel, one with no ego. Jenny use to often tell me – “Rivka, Jesus is all I need”. Indeed, the Lord honoured her faith. A missionary couple had to relocate back to their home country. They left behind all their belongings (not new, nonetheless these items were in great shape) for Jenny. Besides material things, they also handed over the flourishing ministry to Jenny.
Present scenario: Jenny has reached a place in her life where she is well honoured and respected. Sister Jennys’ life teaches us that Holy Spirit does not define our future based on our past mistakes.

We should seek forgiveness for our mistakes, learn from them and move on.

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But whoever confesses and turns away from his sins will find compassion and mercy.

Proverbs 28:13