How Long Does it Take???
by toni
It has been nine years since Silvana has been “doing life” with us. And life has not been easy for her, nor for us accompanying her. We’ve seen her marry, struggle in an abusive relationship, try to love an unfaithful husband, and make poor decisions based on her hurt and pain.
Through it all we have met off and on for prayer and Bible study, but she really struggled to make faith her own. “I’ve always believed there was a God,” she said to me a year ago, “but not like you do. I know I don’t follow him like I should.” It seemed she was never ready to accept Christ and all that He offers.
My faith was weakening that she would ever make the jump. After so many years of “discipling” my unbelieving friend, would she EVER come to faith? Then it happened. God happened. Grace (like rain) happened.
It turns out she sinned grievously against someone she loved very dearly. She knew she deserved to be punished, shunned, rejected, and shamed. Instead this believer forgave her and in the midst of the pain offered reconciliation, relationship, friendship. Silvana was stunned, confused, and broken. She had never experienced forgiveness, EVER. Now, finally the concepts of grace and mercy became more to her than just out-of-reach theological terms.
Just yesterday over a “café con leche” she shared with me that in the midst of the brokenness she has come to know her Savior. “I’ve always believed there was a God,” she stated again to me yesterday, “but now I am ready to follow him. And I will not let anyone or anything stop me!”
Nine years… Our Lord’s timing is perfect, and I am learning to have faith in Him for the people he has called me to even if it takes nine years!
September 2, 2006 at 2:46 am
My eyes are wet with joy as I read this. In some small way I feel the journey with you over the past nine years. It gives me great hope for the future, and great assurance in the reality of our Savior!