"Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God."—Deuteronomy 7:9, NKJV
While growing up, life was a constant struggle. My father died when I was four years old. My jobless mom had no means of caring for my older siblings and me. I was adopted by a wonderful woman who entrusted me to her sister. That day marked the beginning of my life’s journey. People in her house regarded me as filthy and hopeless to the extent that I was not permitted to use household utensils. I lived a lonely life as a child with no shoulder to cry on. I could not share my humiliation with my adoptive mother because she lived far away and eventually traveled abroad. I had no one to share my sorrows with but God.
The only thing that kept me moving forward though my bitter experience was my hope in God—and my high academic performance, which endeared me to my teachers. No communication came from my mother. Sometimes I would wash the few little garments that were mine. Then, naked in my little room, I’d wait until they dried so I could wear them again. Though I sometimes did not have enough food or clothes, I never gave up. I trusted that one day my burdens would be lifted—to God’s glory—if I remained faithful to Him.
Interestingly, it was my foster parent who had introduced me to God. I took delight worshiping the Almighty. Participating in worship and church activities became part of me because I loved the story of redemption and especially the freedom found in Jesus. I always looked forward to the Parousia, which was to end all human suffering and pain. I prayed and sought the face of the Almighty daily. Once I was able to make a casual visit to my mother. When I saw how poverty had consumed her, I cried all night. With that experience, my dreams of reuniting with her were shattered, but God still had a beautiful design for my life . . . in His time.
After finishing my secondary education, I was invited to stay with the son of the woman who had adopted me. After in his house for six months, early one morning, he handed me an application form to attend a university. That began my success story. By the grace of God, I finished my first degree and have started a master’s degree still under His care, all to the glory of God. I have learned that nothing is hard for the Lord. If only we have hope and faith in Him, He will surely turn our lives around for the better to His glory. Our God is faithful indeed. Amen!
Evelyn Osei-Bonsu
First published in Carolyn Rathbun Sutton, ed., In His Presence (Silver Spring, MD: General Conference Women’s Ministries Department, 2018), 341.
