Inspiration in the Nations

As my friend Rita (not her real name) tells the story of her journey to faith in Jesus, you will see that the movement of God’s hand in our lives does not depend on other people. It really is true that He has “set eternity in the hearts of man” and He can reveal himself to us wherever we are.

Joy: Rita, please tell us about yourself and about your beliefs growing up.
Rita: I am 32 years old and I am from Iran. I come from a moderate Muslim family. When I was a child, my parents and the society taught me that our God is Allah, but I didn’t know him personally. I was always hungry to know God, but from the start I couldn’t accept many of the Islamic rules which made absolutely no sense to me. The main reason was that I couldn’t agree with a religion that looks down on women! I can say I’m more rational than emotional. Some of the common questions that I always had were why men were allowed to officially have 4 wives, why a woman’s share in everything is half of a man’s, and why a woman cannot stand alone in the society. I was never a feminist, but I really felt it was unfair and I still feel it is. When I turned 18, I went abroad to study Dentistry. When I left Iran, I had no idea that God had a bigger plan than I could ever imagine.

Joy: What kind of things did you experience in your search for God and how did you encounter Him in the personal way that you were hoping for?
Rita: In my life journey I had been to few countries. I started in India, the land of a million gods, where I passed through a difficult time of knowing different people with different cultures and beliefs. I made many Hindu friends there. It was exciting for me to talk with them about their religion and go to different temples to see the way they worship their gods. But that didn’t help me find God and fill the inner emptiness.

My studies didn’t end in India. I went to Dubai to join a dental school there. At University I made friends from different nationalities and most of them were Suni Muslims. They told me that the reason that I didn’t believe in Islam was because I was born into the wrong Islam (Shia). So I started learning about the “real” Islam by reading the Quran and other kinds of prayers which I learned from them. After a few months I realized it was just the same list of “Do’s and Don’ts” and I wasn’t actually communicating with God. So I kissed Allah Goodbye.

Later I got familiar with Theosophy (New Age belief) and found friends who were gathering weekly to get connected with what is called “The Energy Ring”. At times they were bluetoothing energy to one another and to me as well. It was interesting, but I was not convinced at all that this was the right way. I even tried going to a Catholic church and all I remember is that the priest was telling me about the Virgin Mary and spraying the holy water on me. But I was searching for God and not a religion!

I was very busy the last year of my studies in 2013-2014 . I was an Atheist at that time because I thought God didn’t exist in my life. I became hopeless, depressed and lost and I didn’t know the purpose of living. In order to overcome my depression I was reading self help books and doing meditation and sports. I decided to go jogging daily.

One day after jogging I started looking to the sky and talking to a God who I was not sure even existed. I told him about all my challenges and struggles. I felt somehow relieved and It became a routine for me to talk to God daily after sports.

A few weeks later I was invited by a friend to an Evangelical church. It was the first time for me to be among people who actually worshiped Jesus as God! I always thought Jesus was a prophet. I closed my eyes during the worship service and I prayed to Jesus and I said, “I don’t know if you’re God but if you are, please show me yourself”. After the service one of the elders of the church laid his hands on me and prayed. I felt the power of God for the first time. It was like an electric shock on my entire body and I started to cry. That was the manifestation of the Holy Spirit even before I become a believer.

A few days after that service, God finally spoke to me through a dream. In my dream I saw I was in the middle of a desert and I was lost. There was a big TV screen where I could see my entire life’s miseries, loneliness, hopelessness and unfairness. It was painful for me to watch the miserable parts again. I cried out loud to the God and said, “God where are you?” I was running and crying “Why don’t you take my hands!” Suddenly I saw a big white hand in the form of a cloud come to me. I placed my small hand into his and he took me at the speed of light to where there was no more desert and it was green. His presence was so powerful that as I woke up I started to cry. I could feel that I was being held in the palm of his hands. I continued going to church and started reading the Bible to get to know Jesus more.

My life changed and since then I have witnessed many miracles. One of them was that I got married to a very faithful man of God who helped me grow in my faith. We met at the church and we got married after 9 months. And now I’m so blessed to have a healthy son who is 2 years old.

Joy: How did you and your family end up in Germany where you are now and how does your faith effect your decisions and your outlook on the future?
After we got married we were supposed to start our marital life there in Dubai. We both had many small and big dreams. We had gotten an apartment and decorated it with the furniture that we loved. But two days after the ceremony the government refused to renew our visas, even though we had already lived such a long time in that country.

It was like a shock because we couldn’t go back to Iran as converted Christians. We started praying and asking for God’s wisdom because we didn’t know where to go. God spoke to us through 3 pastors and guided us to apply for asylum in Germany. We had many divine appointments and met great people along the way as we simply followed God’s voice.

But I must say that these 5-6 years in Germany have been a very tough and rough journey for both of us. Moving from Dubai’s luxurious life style to living in a refugee camp was a big and depressing downgrade for us. It was a journey full of waiting, tears and hearing “No” in almost everything. We waited almost 2 years for our case interview with the immigration office, while seeing other people who had just arrived getting accepted. Every day our situation was getting worse. One of the most depressing parts was that the government chooses your city and they chose one of the most racist cities in the world – Dresden, where we couldn’t go out every Monday afternoon for the whole two years because there were demonstrations against foreigners every week. But we thank God because we also found our best German BFFs in this city and finally our asylum was granted.

Learning the language and fitting into the society was a challenge for us and honestly speaking, we still haven’t gotten completely settled. But we were encouraged by a prophetic word that this is not our final destination. We know that God has used these years to develop our character and prepare us for the purpose that he has for us.

Despite the hardships that we have faced during this time we hold on to the dreams and the Word of God. We believe that God has never forsaken us and our relationship with Him is the fuel that sustains us. I know Jesus is on my side and has a great plan for me and my family. I believe God prepared us to use us in a very special way to understand the weary and the least of the society. Recently I enrolled in an online School of Healing in the USA as He has been confirming to me that He wants to use me to minister in the area of healing. I pray for those that God brings along my way and several people have been healed. I feel so excited about what God has for me next. Glory to God!

Joy: Are you able to work in Germany?
Rita: I had to go through the recognition process for my degree – including attending German language classes and another specific course for international dentists. The whole equivalisation process took almost 2 years, but miraculously my degree was officially recognized before even completing the courses! At the moment I’m at home taking care of my son. I would like to be a dentist in the country where God is going to take us next and I’m praying for open doors and approval.

Joy: Can you share some of the Bible verses that are most meaningful to you?
Rita: These are my favorites because God reminds me of his promises that he has a great plan for me.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Joy: What is your favorite thing to do when you have free time?
Rita: Improving my English writing and accent and worshiping the Lord are the two things that I like to do the most.

Joy: Tell us about a time when other women have encouraged you or lifted you up in some way.
Rita: One of the women who lifted me up during this Quarantine time was a friend who sent us a daily worship devotional via FB Messenger. We have been so lonely in this country and we have missed having a spiritual family or a friend who would think of us or pray with us and send an encouraging word every single day.

Joy: What do you think we should know so that we can better understand and minister to women who come from a Muslim background such as yours?
I would say you can encourage them by listening to them and putting yourself in their shoes so that you would understand what they have gone through. Encourage them by reminding that God loves them, that they are precious in the eyes of the Lord and that they are not less worthy than men.

Joy: Can you share a recipe for a dish that will give us a taste of Iran?
Rita: This is my favorite easy “Persian Barberry Rice” recipe:

Rita’s Recipe