Confidence in God: The Path to Transformation

By Maria Helena Jesus da Silva

I want to share a little of the transformation that God made in my life when I decided to give myself completely to Him. Despite having grown up in an evangelical church, I didn't truly know God and His word, which led me to an adolescence far from God. I lived according to the values ​​of the world and was involved in a four-year relationship which was broken at the beginning of the pandemic. I faced intense emotional pain, panic attacks and anxiety, which made me seek God again. It was at that moment that I was invited to study the Bible.

During nine months of Bible studies, I faced many doubts, internal conflicts and spiritual struggles that almost made me give up. But I decided to get baptized and totally give my life to God because I wanted to live something different. More than that, I wanted to be a different and better person.

And it was incredible! From the moment I made this decision, peace, relief, and an immense desire to serve the Kingdom took over my heart. By God's grace and mercy, I met incredible people who helped me and prayed for me; and God began to work in my family. My mother, who was already a Christian, fulfilled her dream of getting married. God gave me the opportunity to do an exchange in Chile, where I got to know the local church and was able to share the word of God with others. Furthermore, my cousin and aunt also learned the word and decided to follow Christ.

I was always against marriage and never had good examples around me, but my thoughts and heart were transformed by the word of God. Today, I am married to the man who invited me to study the Bible.

I do not deserve and cannot even enumerate all the miracles that God has given me the privilege to experience. I had many fears and doubts. I was stubborn at times, and I didn't always understand everything, but two scriptures helped me and still help me to always want to do God's will:

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version) – “For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Joshua 1:9 (New International Version) – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

I pray that God will help us to always be aligned with His heart and the plans He has for our lives, and that He will enable us to trust and wait on Him. When we trust and surrender to God, we are transformed and experience true miracles. More than that, He makes us a source of blessings in other people’s lives.

Maria Helena is 22 years old and she serves at the church in São Paulo, in the Campo Limpo sector. She is married and has a degree in journalism.