Not an easy road

When I got saved I was on a high. I was buzzing and felt peace, joy and a desire to share the gospel with whomever I met. I wanted others to know Jesus for themselves. I wanted them to be saved from hell and destruction but people were not as receptive to the good news as I hoped.

My friends at university viewed me with bemusement.  I was inseparable with three other girls but our relationship changed because I was no longer interested in the things we previously enjoyed.  They walked away and I did not hear from them after I left university.  Although it was hard, I believe the Lord separated me from my friends for a reason.  He wanted me to live a new life and not be drawn back into old habits and haunts.  God wanted me to have friends but He gave me new ones  who loved the Lord.

Even family were not supportive.  My sister, who I was living with, and had always been a good big sister to me, was not pleased with my decision.  The enemy worked in her to turn her into someone I didn’t recognise.  She became cold and distant, it was like walking on eggshells in the house.  I eventually moved out of my sister’s home, into my friend’s home, which gave me some respite but up until now our relationship has not been restored fully. 

The Bible talks about our enemies being members of our own household (Matt 10:36).  My relationship with family has been fractious for many years, since none have joined me in serving the Lord.  Despite two family members being baptised they eventually backslid.  I am still the odd one out among my siblings.  At times, I remembered feeling very lonely and my pastor was a lifeline in those times.  She would always preach the right sermon at the right time. Thankfully, the Lord eventually blessed me with my own family.

Hard times are all par for the course when you begin to follow the Lord.  Persecution must follow but we must overcome.   The Bible talks about seed being sown into good ground, which will produce thirty, sixty or hundredfold.  There are some seed which is sown into rocky soil, where when the pressures of life come they fall away.  This happened to one of the young girls who I got baptised with. Although she was passionate for the Lord, the difficulties in her life caused her to turn back.   The seed sprang up quickly but the soil was shallow (Matthew 13: 1-8). 

The Christian walk is not easy but it is the most fulfilling path in life.  We were born to know and serve our Creator but we have an enemy who does not want us to have eternal life.  He hates God’s creation and is ever working to draw many souls away from serving God.  Unfortunately, his plan is working for the majority of the world. Let us be encouraged, as believers, to hold onto Jesus.  There is nothing in this life that should stop us from serving Him.  Our reward will be in heaven where we will praise God for eternity.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (St John 3:16).