Early one morning, a friend phoned me about an urgent situation. His neighbor, Juan, was in serious trouble. He had been falsely accused and the police came to his house and took him into custody. He went through a terrible situation; he was confined for five days in a cell with 32 prisoners. He spent those five days almost without sleeping, mostly standing in a corner of the cell. After five days they took him to court. Because there was no evidence of the charges, the judge released him. But as a result of all this, he lost his home and livelihood.
This experience led Juan to such a point of despair that he wanted to commit suicide. He was completely disillusioned with life and with the person who had accused him falsely.
My friend begged me to talk with him. Juan and I then talked for two hours. I shared with him about Jesus’ love and forgiveness and gift of salvation. I told him that God had a plan for his life. He prayed with me to receive Jesus in his heart.
For 15 days he called me every day. Our communications had positive results. Little by little he was growing stronger and no longer wanted to commit suicide. But he was still very depressed and could not sleep. He wondered why this had happened to him; he continued to experience deep sadness.
The many calls and prayers that we shared eventually got results; he was getting stronger and stronger. I read him Bible verses about the reality of heaven, and I sent him several Christian devotional books. In addition to continuing to pray with him personally, my wife and I had intercessory prayer for him daily.
Juan said, “Every time I talk with you, my mind gets clearer. Communication with you fills me with a lot of peace.” Finally, step after step, call after call, prayer after prayer, the Lord has worked in his life, and Juan has grown stronger.
I am now giving him Bible classes. He still feels sadness, and has his ups and downs because of what happened, but he is working and moving on. He recently said, “With the help of the Lord, I will move forward. I will face the future with faith.”
“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” 1.
- Jeremiah 29:11 NIV ↑