♕ Today's Promise: “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5
Hello Brides! I would like to share my Praise today regarding family. 🙂 I was going to share about an answer to prayer regarding my younger brother but I have something else that I would also like to share about 🙂
Let me just start off by saying that the whole relationship dynamic of not just within my own family with my parents divorce etc.. but also the dynamic within my dad's family was really bad. My dad blamed many of his family members for so many things that I grew up not having the joy of visiting, spending time with and getting to know my cousins. So it has been a desire of my heart to get to know them. Well some of my cousins started a chat group on WhatsApp and arranged FaceTime so that we could chat and catchup with each other! It was soooo wonderful to speak to many of my cousins, some that lived in other parts of the world. Oh my heart is filled with sooooo much gladness and indescribable joy!!! Thank you Heavenly Husband!!! I sit here with tears of joy as I type. Thank you for this blessing!
The other praise I would like to share as I said is about my younger brother, as a family we know that he has a drug problem but not the extent of it. It was his birthday a few days ago there was not even a way to contact him to wish him, many family members have blessed him with a phone which was always sold I guess... He has for many years stayed with various friends and family, has never had a permanent place to stay, always struggling and scrounging.... A year or so ago I was reading through and journaling some of the Salvation Stories and 2 of them struck a deep note in me especially the one about "The Heroin Addict" so many of what is written is so similar to my brother’s story. Reading about Teen Challenge in the Salvation story I had a look at their site and wrote down a prayer for my brother that God would somehow provide the same type of help to my brother during his recovery. I have never heard of anything like this in South Africa where the main focus is on the Lord our healer. Besides that my family just does not have the finances... As a family many times we have tried to find solutions for my brother, nothing ever worked out...
Recently I got a call from my mom that a friend of my brother who is also a recovered addict drove by a place that he thought could assist my brother. During this time my brother was visiting my mom for something to eat as he always does and agreed to go with my mom admitting that he needed help and is tired. They were not able to get any help but was provided with a number. My mom asked me to call as they may take in new people early next year if they have space. Calling the number I spoke to a very kind gentlemen that explained a very simple way of helping the people they take in. Firstly they provide a job through their income generation projects so that they are able to pay for their own food and accommodation. They have devotions in the morning and Bible study in the evening. Hearing what this kind gentleman had to say I could only rejoice remembering the prayer I wrote down last year trusting the Lord for His appointed time.
I do not know what the future holds, I do not know if there will even be space for my brother.. All I know is what I feel in my heart and the faith that my Love can do even more than I could even think, dream or imagine! There has been so much brokenness and hurt but what comforts me and brings me great joy is that the God we serve is a God of restoration and that He has given us His Son to love us and hold our hand and give us joy and gladness as we His Brides are waiting for His appointed time to Restore. As I type this I feel so much joy and gladness and His love pouring through my heart and soul, I remember the scripture: sorrow may last for the night, but JOY comes in the morning!!
~ Atarah in South Africa
Follow #Atarah
I’m a tithing partner. Learn more.