Source: Partners International, October 18, 2018
I was panicking, and my heart beat fast when the village chief and his aides came to our house. I didn’t even dare to meet them. My husband opened the door and invited them in. Without saying a greeting, the village chief hurriedly asked my husband, “What have you done to make Yaha change his religion?”
Apparently, the villagers learned that Yaha had come to believe in Jesus and they could not accept that fact. The villagers were angry at Yaha’s decision, so they agreed to expel him from the village. Yaha’s extended family also rejected him because of his new belief, including the village chief who has kinship relationship with him.
My husband replied, “That was Yaha’s own decision sir; I did nothing to force him.”
Hearing my husband’s explanation, the village chief warned us as a family not to do anything to influence the villagers to change their beliefs.
The incident that afternoon made me afraid. Worry crept into my heart. I began to fear that later the villagers will reject and threaten us because we are Christians. In my moment of fear, God strengthened my heart through his Word. The Word of God says in Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful!” When I received the Word my heart and mind began to calm down. I was so grateful that God helped me.
My heart was strengthened again and that night I was able to sleep well. God the Holy Spirit gave me great peace and tranquility so that in the midst of the problem, I could remain strong in him. God really cares and is always ready to help and reaffirm his calling for me to reach out to those who do not know the Lord Jesus yet. Blessed be the Lord.
» Readers might be interested in a report from another Indonesian Christian, a Christian commercial pilot who felt God led him to speed his departure from Palu, thus saving 140 passengers as the earthquake and tsunami devastated the area. Remarkable.