
One person in particular is my friend, Lilly, whom I visit the Old Folks’ Home with each Thursday, as well as spend time with at church. Throughout the short years of my life I have met a number of pretty incredible people; Lilly tops the charts. She is 22 years old and has lived her entire life in a Muslim home. She became a believer several years ago and knowing the possible response, has slowly introduced her beliefs to her family.
Her parents are not supportive of any of her activities, including translating services for the local seminary here, participation at the church, or any fellowship/Bible study groups. With her growing involvement in these events, the relationship between her and her parents has become more and more severed. In fact, within the last couple months, Lilly was told by her parents that if she did not stop her involvement in these activities, they would not pay for her final semester of college and she would be kicked out of the house. After much prayer, she has decided to continue her involvement in these activities and has begun looking for a new place to live. God will provide the necessary funds to finish school, if not now, then in the future.
But there is a new twist… a most profound, complex, and awe-inspiring twist. Lilly has never been baptized and has recently been feeling the prompting of God leading her in that direction. What this means for her relationship with her family, though, could be and more than likely will be, devastating. More than anything else, Lilly’s parents have made it very clear to her that if she is ever baptized, she will not only be out of the house, but out of the family… for good. They would no longer consider her their daughter and she would no longer be welcome in the home. According to Muslim law, they should have her killed, but she does not think this is a possibility. The reality of a beating could be very great, however.
What amazes me in all of this is not the response of her parents to her faith in Jesus, but Lilly’s response to their threats. She speaks with the greatest security and dependence on Jesus and a peace about the situation that could calm any storm. She is in the midst of making a decision that would completely change the course of her life, and not a change for the easier. Persecution is great and real. She has experienced it and is prepared for all that she will experience, depending on the decision that is made. As of right now, Lilly is continuing to pray about whether now is the time for her to be baptized or not. If it is, she is prepared for the outcome. If it is not, she knows it will come eventually. Either way, though, Lilly knows what she believes and why she believes it. She is prepared to fight the fight of faith, to endure the threats and challenges of her family, to carry her cross, and to completely trust Jesus with all that she has. In all of it, she is confident that the Lord will open the eyes of her parents and that one day, they too will see His glory and give praise to Jesus in Heaven.
Please pray with me for Lilly during this time of extreme decision making.
okay, i feel a bit ashamed using my name of "thegreatestpersonyou'lleverknow" when you know truly heroic gals like Lilly. i may never suffer for my faith and can only hear about such warriors for Christ with awe. i will pray that she continues steadfastly in her faith, and that her family comes to know Christ as a result.
ReplyDelete