December 7
Faith
in the Shadows
"Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them."
Matthew 5:10 (NIrV)
Ismail gripped the small, tattered Bible tightly as he walked through the narrow alleyways of Mogadishu. It was wrapped in an old cloth, hidden beneath his jacket. If anyone saw it, he knew what would happen. A beating, maybe worse.
Being a Christian in Somalia was dangerous. His family had disowned him when they found out. His old friends now saw him as a traitor. "You are a disgrace," his uncle had spat. "You have turned your back on your people."
But how could he turn his back on Jesus? The first time he read about Christ, something in him stirred. A hope he had never known. A love deeper than fear. He couldn’t explain it—he just knew it was true.
But truth had a price.
He reached the small house at the edge of the city and knocked three times, then once more. The door creaked open, and Aadan, an older believer, peeked out. "Come in, quickly."
Inside, six others sat on a woven mat, whispering prayers. A single candle flickered. This was church. No walls, no steeple—just a handful of believers risking everything to worship.
As Ismail sat, the door suddenly rattled. Loud voices outside. His heart pounded.
"Police," Aadan whispered. "Stay silent."
The next moments stretched like hours. Footsteps outside. A knock. Then silence. Finally, the voices faded. Aadan exhaled. "Thank God."
Ismail’s hands trembled, but he felt something deeper than fear—peace. Jesus had warned of this. "If the world hates you, remember it hated me first." This was the cost of following Him.
Later that night, as Ismail walked home, he looked up at the stars. He had nothing—no family, no safety, no future. But he had Christ. And that was enough.
Prayer:
Father,
I pray for those who suffer for their faith.
Give them strength when they are weak, courage when they are afraid, and hope when all seems lost.
Help me to stand firm in my own faith, no matter the cost.
Remind me that Your kingdom is worth everything.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
