Today we hear from Diana, a Jordanian woman in her twenties who desperately needed to experience the love of Jesus after her childhood left her feeling unwanted and unloved.
Diana is the youngest of four daughters, and felt that her older sisters always received preferential treatment from their parents growing up. She felt alone in her family and the lack of love left scars on her young soul.
In the end, there was a total breakdown of trust between Diana and her family, and it impacted every part of her life. She was struggling so much at school that she was advised to enrol in an alternative education program. It made her feel like a total failure.
In the depths of her despair, she made a decision to prove to herself, to her former school, and to her parents that she was not a failure. It was a decision that would change her whole life. She had signed up for a Bible school. And despite signing up for the wrong reasons, she met Jesus there.
Having committed her life to Christ, Diana’s discipleship journey was well underway, but it would be a long road to inner peace and contentment.
During her time at the Bible school, Diana could not stop searching for the unconditional love she missed out on in childhood, especially from the older people she met. She was looking for new father and mother figures in her life, but a string of new connections also let her down.
Her home life was still toxic, too, with her father rarely talking to her, and her sisters still giving her the cold shoulder.
Eventually Diana’s despair started manifesting as physical health problems, and it was around that time she reached out to SAT-7. We listened to her and offered to lead her through a short session of prayer and counselling.
After the session, she had this to say: “Through you, through your words, and through your blessed prayers, I was able to sense and absorb not only your love and understanding but also the love of the Lord. Today I genuinely believe that I am His daughter and the beloved of His heart. I could see from what you shared with me how we had gone through similar things. Although I don't know you personally, your love has touched my heart. I believe that each and every word you say is a manifestation of Jesus' love for me. The Lord sent you to me.”
The Viewer Support team at SAT-7 ARABIC continued to connect with Diana, guiding her to Biblical truths about her identity and encouraging her faith. She was deeply touched by the ongoing communication.
Diana said: “Before I opened up to you I wasn't able to talk with such transparency, but now I feel so at ease to share, and when you reply to me I truly feel that you understand what exactly I'm passing through. Thank you for being here for me! Truly I have never met anyone like you, one who would share and pray with me like you do. [You are] helping me on my journey towards recovery. Your presence is part of God’s plan for me, it's His arrangement for my journey of healing and overcoming the painful past.”
Our exchanges with Diana brought out a poignant truth. Although we need people around us in times of need, it is not so much the people that sustain us, but the love of God channelling through them. It was when Diana grasped this truth that the wounds of her heart started to truly heal. As her heart was filled with the love of God, she was set free from the need for people’s affirmation.
Diana said: “What you gave me is way more than listening to me, acknowledging what I am going through, and encouraging me to surround myself with Godly people. You have given me Jesus! And that’s the ultimate thing. When I first started talking to you, I stressed how important it was for me to have people and relationships in my life. I'm not saying that humans don't need other people, but my focus has shifted, and I can now see things more deeply and beyond, especially with my extended intimate times with the Lord. I am now observing that the closer I get to Him, the less I feel the need for others.”
It is a great reminder. If we are blessed to have people in our lives who love and support us, they have been given to us by God as a means of expressing His love for us. And if we are going through a season of loneliness, it might be an opportunity to experience the love of God directly and to lessen our dependence on people.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on Diana’s story.
Let us thank God for breaking through to Diana and showering her with unconditional love.
Let us pray for those at SAT-7 ARABIC who personally connect with our viewers. May God strengthen them and fill with His love, so they can lead many more people into His arms.
May you too experience the love of the Father.
Amen
