AS PASTORAL SPOUSES, many of us experience great testimonies and see very closely the hand of God that sustains us throughout our ministry. But let me tell you my testimony—and that of my family—when I decided to follow Christ and accept His call, even though I was not a pastor’s wife but a future pastor’s wife at the time.
In 2014 my husband responded to a call during a campaign called “Passion for Souls.” He chose to listen to the voice of our Father when he felt the need to study theology. He was passionate about lost souls, prayed to God, and asked for His approval. Then we decided to leave the city of San Luis Potosi, where we lived, to go to the university.
At that time, our family consisted of my husband, my six-year-old daughter, and me.
Believing that we had things solved and that everything would be straightforward, we went excitedly to the adventure of a new city, a new house, activities, people, and even a new job for me. Since I had a bachelor’s degree in accounting, I thought it would be very easy to place me in a career position to support my family, who would now depend 100 percent on my income.
And why do I say we believed we had our lives solved? Before we decided to leave the city, we had three businesses that had provided us a comfortable life and allowed us to enjoy certain privileges. When we decided to go to the university, we tried everything we could to transfer them, but we managed to sell only one.
We had enough money to support us for at least half a year and cover registration fees, tuition, rent, essential furniture purchases, and other expenses. The other two businesses we left under the administration of a relative on the condition that they should only send us the equivalent of the tuition for my husband and daughter; the rest was the payment of their salary and for reinvestment.
FIRST TEST
Those businesses that at the time had been very profitable stopped being so. In less than half a year, one of them disappeared. When we went to ask for an account, it no longer belonged to us. It had changed owners. And that is where my faith began to waver.
Thinking that God had not called us to His ministry, that perhaps we had rushed into the decision, and that we had not taken considerable time to pray and listen to God’s voice, my mind told me that we had made a very bad decision. I wondered if going to the university was not what the Lord expected of us.
Every night I prayed and asked God to manifest Himself in our lives. If it was not His will that we would serve Him in ministry, I asked that He would allow us to return to San Luis Potosi and start again in business. But at the same time, I told Him that I did not want to be a stumbling block for my husband, not knowing and being sure of His will.
I was afraid to tell my husband about my feelings. If I did, would he want to go back for my peace of mind instead of following his dream, making void the “possible will of God”?
Then I understood this biblical passage: “Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me’” (Matthew 19:21).
Undoubtedly, God calls us to follow Him without any limitations. He requires that we commit ourselves totally and get rid of what hinders our genuine relationship with Him. We must depend totally on Him and thus be able to experience the great blessings that He has prepared for us and recognize His power through prayer.
Questions came into my mind: What will be waiting for us? How will we pay for the next three years of my husband and daughter’s studies? If our source of wealth had vanished, the means on which our destiny depended had collapsed.
You know, God manifested Himself at every moment and supplied our basic needs. He gave us the means so that we would never lack our daily bread. Did we have many needs? Yes. Did we long for the past life filled with blessings? Very much—you have no idea.
Dear colleagues, when we believe that all is lost, that our lives are sailing aimlessly, and that we are not worthy of God’s blessings—or even when we believe that He does not hear our prayers—we just have to wait patiently. He calls us to trust.
The Lord God said, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
The Lord’s purposes are without error. He allows us to pass under His standards of quality and always watches over our spiritual growth.
Now my family and I analyze everything we went through and how we overcame in the name of Jehovah. We see clearly how God was always in control of our lives. Although it felt at times that we were cut off by the bad things we experienced, we enjoyed the torrential rains of blessings.
Let us overcome in the name of Jehovah and testify to all He has done for us. Companions, this is only part of the story. Another time I will tell you the second part of our testimony and how God allowed my husband to graduate successfully.
To be continued in the next issue
