Sharing inspiring stories
Sharing inspiring stories
I have yet to meet anyone who does not wish to be successful. It's easy to wish for something; all you have to do is sleep and dream about it. However, success is not about wishing—an illusion that what you desire is already true—but rather about working hard toward your goals. In this text, I would like to share the 4 D's that can help you reach your purpose in life.
The burdens that easily beset me weighed heavily upon me, and I could feel the gaze of others looking down at me in disgust, wondering how long it would take for me to rise again. In that moment, I lost all hope. I was battered by sins, guilt, hurt, and pain. Then, I looked up and saw the Lord, who had been reaching out His hand to me all along. I asked Him, "Lord, why are You wasting time on me? I'll never meet Your expectations. Look how deep I have fallen and the shameful things I have done."
One thing I know beyond all reasonable doubt is that God never fails. His faithfulness endures forever. Whatever His promises are to you will surely stand; nothing can stop it. It may not look like it now, but trust in His love—He always comes through. Remember, His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways His ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts.
Slowly, she lifted her hands into the air, just like everyone else, and firmly closed her eyes. She felt that if there was a God who wanted to be her friend, someone who wanted to save and rescue her from destruction, she was interested in that God and wished to know Him.
"Help me…" Aamilah said through tears. "Please help me…" It was as if her soul was crying out to God in a yearning that was too deep for words. She desperately needed someone to make everything right in her life. With nowhere to go and no one to call, she felt a profound cry for help that only God could hear and answer. Suddenly, it was as if she were standing under a shower of warm tropical rain that was not just falling on her but flowing through her. She couldn’t fully comprehend this experience, but something within her wanted to remain still in it.
Amanda felt her heart twisted in dismay. She straightened and looked straight into her eyes. “You stand there and have the gut to say to my face that my own husband loves you.” Her face was taut. “So where is he now, why isn’t he going with you? Why is he not here packing his bags to go with you?” She shouted in her face.
Amanda was flustered; she folded her hands across her chest.
“You know why?” She looked straight into her eyes. “You were a mistake!”
Amanda jolted.
“What he had with you was a foolish mistake that he will so regret for the rest of his miserable life.”
Amanda wanted to speak, but when she opened her mouth, no words came out as shame made her lips tremble.
“Now, listen carefully,” Anna said, leaning in with exasperation. “I never want to see your face again! From now on, you are no longer my sister; you have no family—now or ever.” She glared into Amanda’s eyes, her fury palpable. After a few tense seconds, she turned and swung the front door open wide.
To be fully prepared for this battle, we must stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around our waist, for we shall know the truth, and it will set us free—the truth of the Word of God. Next, we wear the breastplate of righteousness, which serves as our defense; our righteousness does not come from the law but through faith in Christ. Our feet should be fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Amanda stood frozen, her heart racing as her sister entered the room. Instinctively, she crossed her arms, a shield against the turmoil she felt inside. Fred, on the other hand, was engulfed in shame and guilt.
Anna slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes ablaze with indignation. “You betrayed me with my sister,” she thundered, her anger erupting through the layers of fear that had enveloped her. She darted her gaze between her husband and Amanda. “Oh my God…” she gasped, covering her mouth to stifle a cry. The weight of betrayal crashed down on her. Turning to Pat, her chest heaved as fear transformed into raw, unfiltered rage.
“I...,” Fred managed, his voice barely a whisper, barely able to hold the shame that threatened to consume him.
“You got my sister pregnant, Fred, while I was oblivious in my own home!” Tears rushed down Anna's face, a torrent fuelled by a mix of anger and heartbreak. She yearned to rise, but Pat gently urged her to stay seated, concern etched on his face.
Anna’s heart raced unbearably, the reality of the betrayal hitting her like a tidal wave. “All the silence, your cold distance, the grief from our loss... oh my God…” Desperation twisted inside her as she fought for control over her spiralling emotions.
Suddenly, Amanda cried out in pain. “Please help me.”
Anna was confused; she felt this could not be; this was familiar, but she couldn’t understand why her sister was in a pool of blood. The pain was like that of contraction as they were seconds apart, and the blood could not be menstrual period. There were some tissues covered with blood on her bed, covered in large blood clots the size of a plumb. This could only be one thing, its miscarriage.
Fred felt like he was going to throw up right there in the room until Anna shouted at him to call 911. He quickly left the room to make the call.
“Are you pregnant?” Anna asked her sister, but Amanda was in tears, cupping her face in her hands. “Tell me, Amanda, are you pregnant? I can only help if I know what’s going on.”
Amanda was in too much pain to answer her sister. She screamed again, overwhelmed by the agony.
“Alright, you need to lay down so I can examine you,” Anna said, helping her sister raise her legs for the examination. As she gently pulled out the tampon, a thick, long clump of tissue came out with it. At that moment, Anna realized her sister was definitely pregnant and was experiencing a miscarriage.
Fred rushed back into the room. “They are on their way,” he announced.
“I don’t think we can wait for them,” Anna replied, placing some pillows under Amanda’s head.
Fred looked terrified. “What’s happening to her?”
When I read this verse, I thought to myself, "I don’t belong in this category; I haven’t killed anyone, and I haven’t shed any blood, whether from the unborn or the living." However, my heart began to open to a deeper understanding. Each time I fall short of the glory of God, whenever I sin against Him, it feels like driving nails through Jesus' hands all over again. It’s as if I’m piercing Him with a sword or driving nails through His legs. Oh my God! I don’t want to do that; I don’t want to take Him back to the cross. He has already paid the price; He died for me. I shouldn’t drive the nails through His body again, and I shouldn’t shed His blood once more. I encourage you to ask the Lord for forgiveness for any shedding of blood you may have caused—whether you have killed, terminated, or drove the nails back into him. Seek His forgiveness.
“Don’t you dare!” Pat shot an angry look at her. “Your son killed my husband!” she raged at him.
“I’m so sorry…” Joel whimpered.
“Sorry is an understatement, Joel. Sorry has no meaning to me right now.”
“I love you, Pat. I love you,” Joel said, tears streaming down his face.
“Stop it!” Pat shouted at him. “I have been living with my late husband’s killer for four years. God!” Her jaw clenched in disgust. “How can I be sure you didn’t plan the whole thing? How can I be sure you didn’t just blame your medical negligence for your own gain? How can I be sure it was just an accident and not something you had plotted?”
“What?!” he exclaimed, taken aback. “You know me, Pat; you know I could never do such a thing.”
“I don’t know you, Joel. I don’t know you, and I’m not sure what you’re capable of. In fact, I don’t even know who you are.” She cried out, turning towards the door.
Joel moved quickly to grab her hands. “Please, Pat, I am so sorry; I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He tried to meet her gaze. “I love you so much and will do anything to make this right.”
