Women Finding Hope in Despair

Being a woman in the Middle East can be challenging at the best of times. But what if you are a woman struggling with financial insecurity and raising children on your own? Nasrin, a SAT-7 PARS viewer from Iran, was one among the millions of women searching for hope in the midst of loneliness and despair.

“Four years ago, I lost my husband in an accident and was left alone with three children. In the society in which I live, when you lose your husband it is like you too are considered dead. I felt worthless and alone,” Nasrin shares. “I was living without hope in darkness, facing poverty and many other difficulties.”

A HOPE THAT DOES NOT FAIL

“One night, when I was feeling hopeless and burdened by my situation, I had a dream that I was stuck at the bottom of a deep well in darkness. I was screaming if there was anyone out there to rescue me, and as I looked up, I saw a glowing man all in white, reaching out to me!

“He said, ‘I am Jesus Christ, your Saviour.’ He carried me out of the well and then I saw myself alone at a church. When I woke up, I no longer felt depressed and miserable but very light and free. After that experience, I found a job and my life was totally transformed.”

FACING OPPOSITION

As a new believer, Nasrin faces a whole new set of challenges. Churches are few and far between and only open to the culturally Christian minorities. A believer’s own family are often among the most challenging sources of opposition.

As Nasrin explains:

“I’m unable to go to any church here and I’ve never seen or owned a Bible. But the Lord has taught me a lot and I have committed my whole life to Him.”

Nasrin has been able to grow her faith through teaching and discussion programs on SAT-7 PARS, which she watches regularly. Though she may feel alone in her own country, Nasrin was able to contact our Audience Relations team for prayer and support.

“We’ve faced a lot of pressure from my brother, and my kids were also dismissed from school due to our faith,” she shares. “They have been called pigs and the school told us that they don’t teach pigs. I replied to them that for me, my kids are the children of the living God.”

She asks us to stand with her in prayer:

“Please pray for my kids to grow in their faith in the Lord, and for God to provide us with an environment to live and worship freely among other believers.”