The Faith to Forgive

When my friend Arshad first told me that he wanted to follow Jesus, I warned him that coming into the Kingdom would not be an easy road. I urged him to count the cost, and Arshad responded confidently, insisting he would stand firm against the enemy’s attacks.

A year later after many trials, we sat in the same café where Arshad had first said he wanted to be a follower of Christ. Things could not have been more different.

He scowled into his cup. “I never thought I’d be betrayed by people so close to me.”

The normally pleasant taste of my coffee turned bitter as Arshad recounted several business transactions that had gone bad, lies from his partners, and mistakes that had cost him dearly. He was even at odds with his wife.

God never intervened like Arshad expected Him to.

My heart ached for my friend. As he started telling another story of a friend’s duplicity months before, I interrupted. “I know you’ve been through a lot, but most of your problems are in the past. Or they will be when you forgive. Are you ready to move on?”

“Oh, I plan to.” Arshad’s voice was resolute. “If God doesn’t turn this around by the end of the month, I’m done with Him. Forever.”

When the shock of his words wore off, I tried everything I could think of to change Arshad’s mind. He didn’t budge.

He finished his coffee and left the café with his ultimatum intact. I left feeling defeated.

My wife and I had been sharing the Gospel in our host country for years, but our fellowship was still small and growing slowly. Since Arshad had been a part of the original group, his recent absences were noticed.

While I prayed for him, I also worried about the other locals in our small house church. How would Arshad’s hardened heart affect them? Would he be only the first to turn his back on the Lord when he felt as though God wasn’t answering his prayers?

Over the next two weeks, I prayed continually for him. I called him several times, hoping to hear good news. But God never intervened like Arshad expected Him to.

We surrounded Arshad and laid hands on him.

As the end of the month rapidly approached, I invited all the believing men from our fellowship to a special Bible study at the café. The focus of the study was on the importance of meeting together. Thankfully, Arshad attended.

He listened intently, engaging with the group like he used to. When he spoke about his struggles, instead of the usual stories, Arshad shared about his recent separation from his wife.

Tears fell from his eyes as he poured his heart out. “She has betrayed me. I can’t forgive her, but I miss her and the kids so much. I feel stuck.”

His words brought an image of a boat to my mind. “You’re like a ship,” I said. “But right now your anchor is down. It’s caught in the rocks and reef. You can’t go anywhere like that, and if you don’t move soon you might sink.”

A few of the other men offered passages of scripture and personal stories of encouragement. Then we surrounded Arshad and laid hands on him.

One of the brothers prayed that Arshad would extend forgiveness and reconcile with his wife that very night. When we finished our prayers, I looked at my friend hopefully. Arshad remained silent and eventually left. The others soon followed.

He’s not the only one changed by this challenging time.

That night, the Lord woke me up repeatedly. I prayed every hour that God would change my friend’s heart, even as I questioned if He would. Arshad seemed too far gone, his heart poisoned by unforgiveness.

The next day Arshad sent a voice message to all the brothers from our fellowship. I opened it hesitantly.

Arshad hadn’t slept well either. Instead, he’d spent the night in prayer and Bible study. In doing so, he recognized just how much he’d been forgiven through Christ. He also realized that if God could forgive him, then he could forgive others.

He vowed to forgive his wife, his former business partners, and several others he mentioned by name.

At first, I was shocked, then overjoyed, then convicted. Had I really doubted the Lord could do this? My faith felt so small.

I quickly confessed and repented, then joined the rest of the group in responding to the message with praise to God.

The Lord not only worked in Arshad but also through him. Since then, Arshad and his wife have reconciled and are now living in the same home. God is healing their marriage, and Arshad is recommitted to serving Jesus with his whole heart.

And he’s not the only one changed by this challenging time.

The Lord not only grew my faith but also that of our entire fellowship. More than ever, we trust that God’s goodness and love will lead and guide us through every stormy sea.

Pray:

• Praise God for the incredible forgiveness offered only through Jesus Christ.
• Thank Him for giving Arshad and Muslim-background believers like him the strength to forgive others.
• Ask the Lord to strengthen and multiply Christ-centered fellowships like this one in Muslim communities.