Year of the Bible

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6, NKJV).

Growing up in a loving Muslim home—led by my generous, strong, industrious mother—was a tremendous blessing to me. A commitment to the five pillars of Islam provided a foundation upon which I developed a reverence for an omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent God.

However, that foundation also left me seeking more. In spite of my questions and misgivings, I persisted in my desire to walk with God unreservedly. I wanted to know truth—even if it made me uncomfortable. One day, while at my university campus job, I lowered my head onto the desk and prayed, “God, please show me truth. No matter how you direct me, I just want to know truth.”

“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Prov. 11:24–25, NIV).

For me, Christmas has always been a time of immense gratitude for all that God has done in my life. However, amid the wonderful festivities and excitement—glimmering lights, delicious food and gifts wrapped with bows—it’s easy to forget that for some, these displays are a further reminder of what they don’t have.

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps. 27:13, NKJV).

Have you noticed that in the difficult times we’re living in, there have also been many miracles? For example, during the coronavirus pandemic, a young husband and father from New Jersey was on a ventilator, and doctors prepared his family for the worst. His sister sent out a desperate plea for prayer, people everywhere interceded for him, and, against all odds, he recovered. “God defies science!” she later testified, “He performed a miracle for my brother!”

“Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength’” (Neh. 8:10, NKJV).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5–6, NKJV).

The book was How People Grow, by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. I had been courageously absorbing its wisdom for several weeks. Eventually, though, I had to stop and address a painful realization: I’m nowhere near the emotionally healthy adult I should be.