A Journey of Faith
The exact moment I placed my faith in Jesus Christ, a profound realization washed over me: I had no one but God to rely on for the journey ahead. Although Christ Himself speaks in the Scriptures about the necessity of counting the cost, and I had tried earnestly to prepare my heart, I still wrestled with a heavy share of fear and anxiety.
At the time of my baptism, I felt a surge of spiritual boldness, feeling ready to face anything for my newfound Savior. Yet, when that initial high settled and the practical reality of daily life set in, human apprehension returned. Heavy questions echoed in my mind and kept me awake at night: "What will I do if I am kicked out of the house? Where will I go?"
In our beautiful Myanmar culture, our lives and identities are deeply rooted in family and community. Taking a stand that separates you from that communal foundation is a monumental leap of faith. Nevertheless, I made a conscious decision to leave my unknown future entirely in God's hands. I took the step of baptism and returned home, bracing for the impact.
While I faced criticism, stern warnings, and various forms of social pressure regarding my new faith, my parents and relatives did not outright forbid me from worshiping. For a time, I hoped we could navigate the differences. However, as the old saying goes, "birds of a feather flock together." A home is truly built on a foundation of shared beliefs and spiritual alignment. The invisible tension grew, and within a few months, circumstances made it undeniably clear: I had to leave my family's home.
Walking away from the only home and security I knew could have easily led to total despair. I did not break, however, because I held fiercely onto the promise that "all things work together for good." Furthermore, the biblical assurance that anyone who leaves "fields, parents, or siblings" for His name's sake will receive a hundredfold in this life, along with eternal life, gave me a profound, anchoring sense of peace amidst the storm.
Ultimately, I reached a point of absolute, total surrender before the Lord, praying: "If You keep me, I will live; if You do not, I am ready to die."
What I want you to know today is this: leaving home was not the end of my story. It was the precise beginning of God lifting me up. I have experienced the absolute truth of His provision woven through the very fabric of my life. These living testimonies are the sole reason I stand firm in my ministry today. The beautiful promise in Jeremiah 29:11—that His plans are "for your benefit" and not for your harm—is not just a comforting verse on a page; it is the living, breathing reality of my life.
If you are standing at the edge of a difficult decision today, weighing the cost of your faith or facing an uncertain future because of your convictions, I encourage you to take the leap. Surrender your fears, trust His promises, and watch how God turns your greatest sacrifices into your most abundant blessings.
With grace and peace,
Samuel Soe Lwin