From Abandonment and Shame to Hope and Healing: Mariam’s Story
The following story is a first-hand account from a Crescent Project staffperson. All names have been changed to protect identities.
Mariam was a shrewd Muslim business woman who moved to Russia with her business partner and lover. For ten years, Mariam enjoyed a luxurious life in Russia. She felt like she was on top of the world as a proud co-owner of a lucrative business, her lover by her side.
But one day, Mariam's lover abandoned her, running away with a half-million dollars, leaving her alone, on the streets, bankrupt, devastated.
In despair and shame, Mariam returned to her home town in Central Asia. She hid in her mother’s home.
Lenders harassed her daily to pay them back with high interest on the money her former lover had taken. Mariam attempted to commit suicide dozens of times. She thought to herself, “It is better to die than to live in this shame.”
“Mariam thought to herself, ‘It is better to die than to live in this shame.’”
One day, Mariam's sister-in-law (a former Muslim, now Christian), Nargiza, shared about Someone who could wash away her shame and give her hope. Nargiza invited Mariam to come to a local house church. One Sunday, Mariam hesitantly showed up and was surprised to find about 60 people of all ages, representing various cultural groups.
She heard the group joyfully praising the name of Jesus in her mother tongue. She listened to the pastor giving a sermon titled: “Who Am I?” He taught about the unbelievable, sacrificial love of Jesus, the Son of God, shown on the Cross. He taught that Jesus loved us so much that He paid the penalty for our sins, which we could not pay for ourselves. He invited everyone in the church to give their life to Jesus.
Mariam was so moved by the message, when the invitation was given to come forward to receive Jesus as Savior, she bravely gave her life to Jesus! With tearful joy, Mariam asked Jesus to forgive her sins and to transform her life.
Mariam was invited to come back and join the house church's sunrise prayer service the next morning, and said she would do her best to come at 6 AM the next day. However, the woman who invited Mariam noticed she was holding her cheek with her hand the entire time. When asked what was wrong, Mariam shared that every winter for the past 12 years, she had suffered from debilitating nerve disease that attacked the nerves in her cheek, and that every year, she had to be hospitalized for a week to receive steroid shots to the affected cheek.
The woman prayed for healing on Mariam’s cheek, then Mariam returned home, still holding her cheek with her hand.
“Mariam prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, if you would heal me of my nerve disease, then I promise you, I will go tomorrow morning.’”
As Mariam was getting ready for bed that night, she felt full of joy and peace. For the first time in a year, fear was gone from her heart! Mariam knelt on the floor and simply prayed: “Jesus, I would really like to attend the sunrise prayer gathering. Lord Jesus, if you would heal me of my nerve disease, then I promise you, I will go tomorrow morning.”
About 4 AM, someone awakened her. She opened her eyes and outside was pitch dark, then immediately she felt something different on her face. Her hand automatically went up to touch her cheek. There was absolutely no pain or numbness! She remembered her promise to Jesus that if He would heal her, she would attend the sunrise prayer gathering.
The house church leaders were surprised to see Mariam that morning and welcomed her in. In this particular region of Central Asia, there was no bus or other type of public transportation.
Mariam (with two friends from her village!) walked two hours to come pray! Mariam waited for a month to share the good news that Jesus healed her nerve disease. When asked why she waited, she answered, “I wanted to be sure that this healing was real. That’s why I waited for a month to declare that Jesus healed me of this terminal disease.”
Hallelujah! Jesus saved Mariam from a painful disease and eternal death!
