Lead me to the cross

Witnessing to family members is tough and I know it first hand. “Dad, did you go to church as you promised me?” sternly I asked him over the phone one day. “No, I am waiting for you to come home so we can go together”, he replied without hesitation giving yet another excuse. I wish I could travel home so I can go with my dad to church; the problem is the ocean is between us making it impossible. My dad is not the only one who does not know God, my mom also does not know Him. My conversations with mom usually go like this, when she comes to visit. “The preacher is doing an invitation for anyone who wants God to be their Savior. Don’t’ you want God to be your Savior?” I translated to my mom during the church service. “No, thank you. I am not ready”, she replied politely. And that’s it. Sometimes I would rather not ask them, because I don’t want to hear what they have to say. It is always the same ole stuff, they are not ready. Why can’t they just believe?! And why can’t it happen NOW! Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.” God’s timing is perfect, it is just so hard to seat and wait.

I have been patiently waiting the last 10 years while I have earnestly been praying for my parents’ salvation. There are days when the burden for my parents is so heavy that it knocks me down to my knees as I cry out to God. He has been faithful in hearing my cry and I believe that one day I will be rejoicing with angels in heaven, when my parents commit their lives to the Lord. Luke 15:7 says, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” When I feel faithless God finds ways to remind me about His faithfulness.
The reminder came the day I talked to my dad over the phone. Our conversation went something like this.

Dad: Do you remember our neighbor who lives on the 2nd floor?
Me: Yes. Didn’t his wife passed away from cancer, when I was still living in Belarus?
Dad: Yes. Not too long ago he remarried and I have seen his wife in passing several times as we exchanged hellos.
Me: Ok.
Dad: Well, one day I was seating in the kitchen when the door bell rang. I went to open the door and our neighbor’s wife was standing right in front of me. She asked me if I go to church and I said no. She then started to ask me questions about God and if I believed in Him. As we talked for several minutes she invited me to go to church with her family, but I politely declined. You know it is no my cup of tea. The neighbor then insisted that she will not give up on me and will continue inviting me to come to church.
Me: Dad, you should really go.
Dad: I will when you come to visit me.

As we hung up, I cried. You see, I have been praying for a long time that God would use someone or something to minister to my mom and dad (my parents are divorced by the way). I was certain that God would not use someone, because in my country there are very few Christians. I did however believe that God could use something, like a circumstance to minister to my family. But God proved me wrong. He has used our neighbor, who happened to live in the same building entrance as my dad. Just to give you a picture our apartment building in Belarus is 9 stories high and has 7 entrances. Our neighbor was obedient to God’s call to go and speak to my dad who she has never met. It blows my mind! But it shouldn’t because nothing is impossible to the God that I serve. That day God has encouraged me to keep on praying for my parents’ salvation as He is working on their hearts. It may be another 10 or 20 years before my parents come to know the Lord, but I will continue to hold on to God’s promise in 2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” My friends, if you feel weary and hopeless because your prayers have not been answered do not give up. Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful and will answer your prayer in His time and according to His will.