When a knock sounded at the front door of the women’s shelter where she’d been staying for several days, Zahra’s heart pounded. Afraid to be discovered there, she hid in a back hallway with her son Sami, listening carefully as the house mother greeted the visitor.

Though the women who ran the safe house seemed to care about the residents, Zahra remained watchful. Only a week before, her husband had beaten her and threatened to take their son if she tried to leave him. As a policeman, he had the resources to find her—to find them.

After the visitor left, Zahra was finally able to breathe again.

“Can I go play now?” Sami asked, barely waiting for his mother’s response before darting to join other children on the floor in the middle of a game.

Zahra jumped when someone behind her touched her shoulder.

“I’m sorry. It’s just me,” said Carissa, a Frontiers field worker and one of the volunteers at the shelter. “You seem upset. Can I make you a cup of tea?”

Zahra agreed. Sinking into a chair in the kitchen, she fought the tears that welled up in her eyes. “I thought I would feel safe here, but I worry all the time that he will find me. I don’t think I’ll ever feel secure again.”

Carissa placed a cup in front of Zahra and sat down across from her. “This world can fill us with fear, but it doesn’t have the final say. I put my trust in Jesus. He’s my refuge in times of trouble.”

Zahra could barely lift her eyes. “You speak of your God as though He cares about you. I want that too.”

“Can I share a passage from the Injil with you?” Carissa asked.

Zahra knew that many Muslims believed the holy book had been corrupted, but she had to know the source of Carissa’s peace.

For several weeks, the two women studied the Word together, reading about Jesus’ life and death until Zahra finally understood why Carissa trusted Him so much. Zahra began to trust Him too.

Zahra spent the next few years at the shelter learning God’s Word, growing in her newfound faith, and teaching it to Sami. One day, she came to Carissa with a sad smile. “I’ve been offered a good-paying job in Europe. We’re going to move.”

Carissa hugged her friend and prayed over her new opportunity. Zahra would be going with courage and a steadfast faith.

But a few weeks later, Zahra called Carissa. In a panicked whisper, she said, “The job was a scam. Now they’ve taken my passport and are trying to separate me and Sami. I don’t know what to do, but I need to get out of here.”

Carissa didn’t hesitate. “God is in control. Let’s pray.”

Even though the situation seemed impossible, Carissa’s prayer reminded Zahra of God’s promise to never abandon her. In the following weeks, He protected and provided for her in astonishing ways, ultimately orchestrating an unlikely escape that brought Zahra and Sami back home.

When Carissa and Zahra were reunited, the friends embraced tightly. “What will you do now?” Carissa asked.

“I’m not sure. But I trust that God has a plan.”

“Perhaps you’d like to work at the women’s shelter. The house mother is leaving, and the position needs to be filled.”

Zahra thought and prayed about the opportunity for several days. She didn’t want to make another rash decision, but she knew the pain and fear the women experienced. She also knew the only One who could comfort them through it all.

Perhaps God would use her own experiences to help others.

Several months into her position at the shelter, Zahra met Aaisha, who was married to an extremely abusive man. When she pleaded with her parents to let her return to their home, they insisted she honor her husband. Instead, Aaisha sought refuge at the safe house, where she soon began confiding in Zahra.

One day the two women strolled around the secure courtyard behind their house.

“I know I’ve been crying a lot.” Aaisha’s voice trembled. “Please don’t misunderstand. I’m grateful to have a place at the shelter, but the transition hasn’t been easy. I still don’t feel safe.”

Zahra nodded. “I understand. I felt the same way once.”

“You did?” Aaisha wiped away her tears, surprise and hope now shining in their place. “What changed?”

“I began to follow Jesus.” Zahra smiled, then shared her story. Though her life hadn’t been easy, she’d received great comfort from knowing Christ. There was simply no safer place than with Jesus. The shelter of His arms would never run out of room.

Pray:

• Praise God for Muslim-background believers like Zahra who courageously share their stories and point others to Jesus.
• Ask the Lord to fill the women’s shelter with Gospel hope and transformation which expands into movements of faith.
• Pray that hurting Muslim men and women all over the world will seek refuge in Christ and respond to the Good News.

**This account comes from a long-term worker. Names and places have been changed for security.**

Main photo on iStock: Ibnjaafar

Original article: https://frontiersusa.org/blog/shelter-arms/