Welcome to Voices of the Middle East, a SAT-7 UK podcast.
SAT-7 is an international Christian media ministry bringing life-changing joy to the people of the Middle East and North Africa. Last year we had over 103,000 one-to-one conversations with viewers, and through these conversations we are hearing constant stories of the ways God is at work in people’s lives.
In this podcast, we’ll share some of their stories with you, and invite you to pray for SAT-7 and the people of the region.
Today, we bring you the story of Alborz from Tajikistan, who, through the power of Jesus, was able to forgive the men who killed his brother.
We all know that forgiveness is at the heart of the Gospel. Jesus talked about it often, and, of course, he exemplified forgiveness when, dying on the cross, he cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). But how easy do we really find it to forgive? I know there have been times when I have prayed “Lord, I forgive this person”, only to find myself ruminating over the offence a week later. “Okay, Lord,” I pray. “I think I need your help with this one.”
How much harder must this be for believers in the Middle East and North Africa, who face injustice and persecution that many in the west struggle to even imagine? And yet, it is only with God’s help that any of us can forgive. It’s in being transformed by our own experience of God’s forgiveness that we are able to follow Jesus’s command to love those who have done us wrong.
This was the story of Alborz, a young man from Tajikistan, who reached out to SAT-7 to share, in his words, ‘a testimony of perhaps the most overwhelming event in [his] life.’
He told us: “My brother was a 25-year-old civil engineer living in Afghanistan, and a follower of Jesus. When the extremists found out that he was a Christian, they hanged him upside down, broke his hands and fingers and burnt his face with cigarettes. They put that child of God through the most dreadful torment and killed him.”
I don’t know about you, but I can completely understand Alborz’s anger towards the people who had done such things to his brother. It seems completely justified. But, like anyone who has struggled to forgive can testify, unforgiveness can eat away at a person, making an already terrible situation even worse.
Alborz shared: “I was permanently distressed and in a state of anger. I had a strong desire to take revenge. The feelings of hate that I had for them became my constant companion. Soon I found myself with no friends and at home I did not speak with kindness to those around me.”
Alborz hadn’t just lost his brother, he was beginning to lose himself. As the family reached their breaking point, struggling with the death of one son and the spiralling self-destruction of another, Alborz’s father stepped in, telling him, “You must forgive those who killed my son.”
Have you ever experienced unforgiveness that started to impact on your day-to-day life and the way you interacted with others? Did anyone around you speak up, like Alborz’s father did?
Despite knowing that something needed to change, Alborz struggled with his anger and unforgiveness for another three years. Three years is a very long time to be living in that state of mind. But, one day, he found himself reading the Sermon on the Mount in the Bible.
He read Jesus’ famous words in Matthew 5, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.’” These words deeply impacted him, and something miraculous began to happen.
Alborz said: “My tears flowed, my heart softened, and I forgave the extremists. That moment, the burden I had been carrying was lifted from me. Today I have a great joy in my heart that God has placed there and I am able to overcome all difficulties.”
Wow, what a transformation. It really seems like Alborz experienced the kind of forgiveness that is only possible with God. You might have experienced something similar. It’s in discovering the freeing truth of Jesus’s words in our own lives, that we are able to forgive the unforgivable.
We were delighted to hear back from Alborz after he first contacted viewer support to tell his story. We’re happy to report that his message gave the impression of a home overflowing with joy. “Thank you for giving us this opportunity to spend more time in the Word of God. Your programmes help us and the children to be encouraged and you are encouraging the children to learn to do good things. I give thanks to God for each and every one of you dear ones at SAT-7 PARS.”
Do you remember how Alborz described the hatred he felt? He called it his “constant companion”. It’s so encouraging to know that he has now found a better companion in Jesus, who has given him a new heart and freedom to experience a life of joy.
Let’s give thanks for this radical transformation in Alborz’s life, and for other believers in the Middle East and North Africa who may be struggling to forgive those who persecute them.
Let’s pray as well for Persian-speaking Christians in countries like Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Iran. We know from the messages we receive that the SAT-7 PARS channel can give them the encouragement they need to glorify God even in the most difficult circumstances.
Finally, let’s thank God that while we were still His enemies, He loved us and died for us. Let’s praise Him that His forgiveness frees us to forgive others.
Amen.
Thank you for listening to Voices of the Middle East, a SAT-7 UK podcast. Our teams on the ground are creating powerful, faith-filled television and digital media that is watched by millions of people in 25 countries, and our viewer support teams are always on hand to help people with questions, counselling and prayer requests. Viewers’ names have been changed for security, and actors have been used to represent their voices.
To pray with us every day, visit sat7uk.org/pray and download our latest Prayer Diary.
