Fadia Naji, Mother

Growing up in a wealthy family in Kuwait meant Fadia Naji could have anything her heart desired: expensive cars, beautiful jewellery and the latest designer clothes. But when the Gulf War ended in 1990, so did life as she knew it. Her husband, who had sided with the Iraqi army during the conflict, was sentenced to ten years in prison and her three children were denied schooling because of their father’s reputation as a traitor.

So Fadia and her children moved to Iraq to start a new life. Shortly after their arrival, however, her son Talal was diagnosed with Hepatitis B. Specialists had little hope for Talal’s recovery.  But Fadia believed if she could only get him to the right doctors, he could be cured.

Fadia went from Jordan to Thailand to Bangladesh, hoping to secure papers for entry into England.  Each time her application was denied.  With every move, her son’s health deteriorated.  He couldn’t walk anymore.

By the time they found themselves at a guest house in Bangladesh, Fadia and her family’s hope had dwindled. She was told she would have to wait another three months for an answer from the British Embassy.  Her children spent their days playing in the guest house lobby, and made friends with a fellow resident, Uncle Hassan, who told them stories about Jesus.

“If you believe in Jesus Christ, my brother won’t die,” her youngest son told Fadia one morning. Enraged, Fadia ordered Uncle Hassan to stay away from her children. But he ignored her.  In fact, on the same day Fadia received word that her visa application to London had been denied again, Hassan told her that if she believed in God, her son would be healed.

“I mocked him and challenged him to have God heal my son before I would believe,” she says.  Hassan took up the challenge and spent the next two days praying.  The third day he came back to ask Fadia to go see the doctor again.  “I didn’t have anything to lose, so I went,” she remembers.  Hope flickered in her heart.

To her surprise, the doctor reported no signs of Hepatitis B in her son.  A second opinion confirmed the results.  “Not only was Talal healed, but the doctor told me there were no traces that he’d ever had the disease,” says Fadia.

“That’s when I knew Jesus Christ is God,” she adds thoughtfully.

Soon after, Hassan asked Fadia to marry him.  She accepted and they stayed in Bangladesh for two more years before immigrating to Canada.  Working with the poor and homeless in Bangladesh, she became a humble, compassionate woman.  Now, reflecting on this period, Fadia is still amazed that God was able to transform her in such profound ways. “I didn’t think you could change a 38-year-old woman,” she says, “but God did.”

Sometimes in life we encounter circumstances that are out of our control.  In these times we so often feel lost, out of control, scared, stressed or worried.  But we have the opportunity to know a God who is larger than our biggest problems, He is more powerful than all our fears.

God wants to touch your heart today.  He wants to come into your life, and help you manage your daily trials.  He wants to be a part of your day, helping and guiding you through this journey we call life.

If you would like God to be a part of your life, if you would like Him to be your friend, giving you councel, and guiding you, why not reach out to Him today? Why not give your life to Him.  Pray this prayer, and ask God to be part of your life, ask Him to make you into the person He wants you to be.

~Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally.  Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord.  Take control of my life.  Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life.  Make me the kind of person you want me to be.  Amen.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?  You can pray it right now and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life.  As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.

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