A continuation from the previous blog post, 3 Syrian Widows:
Tears streamed down the three women’s faces as Cassie finished praying for the Lord to comfort them.
These widows—two sisters and their mother—had seen far more grief since the start of the Syrian war than many experience in a lifetime.
“Can I share a story from God’s Word with you?” Cassie asked. The women nodded.
“There was a woman named Hagar,” Cassie began. Hagar was left to wander in the desert with her son Ishmael. But it wasn’t long before they ran out of water. Seeing that she was unable to save her son from death, Hagar despaired. But God saw the distraught woman weeping in the desert. He called out to Hagar and told her not to be afraid. He said that He heard the boy crying, and so the Lord provided a well of water for her and Ishmael in the wilderness.
At the end of the story, Cassie asked Amira, “What do you think we can learn about God from this story? And what does it teach us about ourselves?”
Without missing a beat, Amira responded, “God cares for us in our suffering. He sees us and hears us, just as He saw and heard Hagar in the desert.” Amira’s face seemed to glow in the revelation that God is One who sees, hears, and provides—even for vulnerable women like herself.
Suddenly her face darkened. “Does God see that we are about to be evicted?” she asked.
They hadn’t been able to pay rent and the landlord was threatening to evict them. “There’s no way we can pay. We only have a few more days to come up with the money, or else we’ll be kicked out.”
“God sees and provides,” Cassie said, offering to pray in Jesus’ name with them. Each woman lifted her hands in supplication as Cassie prayed, “Lord, would You quickly provide a safe, affordable apartment for this family?”
Days later, Amira called Cassie with good news. “God answered your prayer,” she exclaimed. They had found a kind landlord who offered them fair rent on a new, fully furnished apartment.
“God sees us and has provided for us!” Amira exclaimed.
Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. (Isaiah 1:17)
Amira, Rama, and their mother have since settled into their new apartment and they are continuing to learn Bible stories. Amira has even invited her friends to join their times of discovering God through His Word.
Cassie marvels at what God is doing as she witnesses this group of Syrian Muslim women read Scripture, discuss how to obey Jesus Christ, and pray in faith for God to provide for their needs.
Pray that Amira and the women around her would continue to regularly study the Word. Pray that they would share with others in their community and that many would be baptized.
Ask God to show Himself to other Muslim widows and orphans and to bless them with His divine provision and protection.
**This account comes from a long-term worker. Names and places have been changed for security.**
Original article: FrontiersUSA.org/blog/article/pleading-the-widows-cause
Main photo by Russell Watkins/DFID