By an Alliance worker serving in the Middle East
After fleeing her war-torn country several years ago, Susannah* arrived in our city with her four children. Her husband is not with them because he is recovering from a serious injury sustained when their home was destroyed. Susannah started attending a local Alliance church after one of the children came to an outreach event last summer.
Life is hard for this family. The oldest son, now a teenager, has a job to help provide. But his health has suffered, and sometimes he is unable to work.
Susannah says that when she comes to church, she feels at peace. She even saw a vision of Jesus while at the church, which gave her comfort and hope.
On a recent Sunday while Susannah and I were talking, I encouraged her to trust the Lord for her family’s needs. I helped her find John 14:13–14 in an Arabic Bible: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Susannah read the verses aloud, and we discussed the passage. I then suggested she show the verses to her children and pray with them for provision in Jesus’ name.
The following Saturday there was no bread in Susannah’s house. Bread is one of the most essential—yet least expensive—parts of every meal here.
Susannah called the children together, and the family prayed for bread. After their petition ended, there was a knock on the door. “A bag of bread was right outside,” Susannah told me later. “We don’t know where it came from, but the children knew God had answered our prayer! Our Lord never forgets anyone!”
Praise the Lord for how He is working in Susannah’s life and in her children’s lives! Pray that God will continue to reveal Himself to them as their Great Provider; that they will experience Christ as Savior and Lord if they have not already; and that God will heal Susannah’s husband. Also, intercede for salvation, provision, and comfort for the many refugee families to whom Alliance churches in the Middle East minister.
*Name changed