1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Faith over Fear podcast, where we discuss 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 2: powerful truths to calm anxiety and fear big and small. 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 2: I'm Jennifer Slattery And during seasons of anxiety, despair, or 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:20,119 Speaker 2: destructive thought patterns, have you ever wondered if freedom is 6 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 2: truly possible? I have been there, which is why I 7 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 2: find today's episode, a feed drop from Samaritan Purses on 8 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 2: the Ground podcast so inspiring. In it, we hear how 9 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:36,880 Speaker 2: Marina Nobling grew up convinced God didn't exist, battled and 10 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 2: eating disorder for years, reached a point where she no 11 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:44,879 Speaker 2: longer wanted to live, and then experienced an encounter that 12 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 2: changed everything. Christ rescued her from her self destructive living 13 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 2: and infused her soul with fresh hope. He continues to 14 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 2: strengthen her when fear, stress, and spiritual battles surface. I 15 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 2: know you'll find encouragement and practical wisdom in what she's 16 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 2: about to share. Take a listen. 17 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: Why do you know who was speaking? I don't know. 18 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: It was not any doubt clear. That's Jesus. 19 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 3: My whole life, I had the wrong thinking. 20 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 1: That's so true. 21 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 3: God exists and I don't know why, but he is 22 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 3: interested in me, and he wants that I live okay. 23 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 4: Without God's perfect love, we cannot be free from condemnation 24 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 4: and the bondage that we all face here on earth. 25 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 4: But with God we can live life and live it abundantly. 26 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 4: John ten Ten says, the thief does not come except 27 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 4: to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they 28 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 4: may have life, and they may have it more abundantly. 29 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 4: Before knowing the Lord, Marina whose voice you just heard, 30 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 4: was living in bondage. She was not living abundant life. 31 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 4: And I was so moved by her testimony that I 32 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 4: can't wait for you to hear it. 33 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: Today. 34 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 4: I'm your host, Chrissy Graham, and I want to welcome 35 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 4: you back to another episode of On the Ground with 36 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 4: Smaritan's Purse, where we take you to the front lines 37 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 4: and behind the scenes of our work around the world. 38 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 4: I've known Marina for a while now, but until recently, 39 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 4: I hadn't heard her entire testimony. While visiting our international headquarters, 40 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 4: Marina sat down with me in our studio. 41 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 3: I started with Summerton's First in January twenty eighteen, and 42 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 3: I was part of the Dona Ministry team, and I 43 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 3: loved this job. Really that after time I had the 44 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 3: opportunity to change roles and to become director of our 45 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 3: national programs and our project Alabastaja and the disaster relief 46 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 3: for German speaking countries is a part of it. And 47 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 3: sharing hope in christis training chaplaincy. 48 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 4: And for people who don't know you serve in our 49 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 4: German affiliate office. 50 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,679 Speaker 3: So our office is in Berlin, the capital. We love 51 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 3: to serve not only in these projects and programs, we 52 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 3: want to serve the churches in Germany. 53 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 4: Before Marina met christ she had told me that she 54 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 4: wasn't just neutral towards God, she was an enemy. She 55 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 4: is daily on the front lines of heavy spiritual battle 56 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 4: with women caught in prostitutions. Such a heart for these 57 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 4: women in bondage because she was once in bondage herself. 58 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 4: Their circumstances are different, but the bondage is the same. 59 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 4: As you listen, reflect on your own story ways that 60 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 4: you have seen the Lord set you free. 61 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 3: I believe that I became a Christian. The reason is 62 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 3: my great grandmother and she was the only Christian in 63 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 3: the family. She was ridiculed, was really hard, but she 64 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,640 Speaker 3: was a praying woman and every time I heard something 65 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 3: about the Gospel, I said, okay, that's an old superstition 66 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 3: and asked to fight against it. Now we live in 67 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 3: the century of science, and we can know many things, 68 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 3: and we doesn't know we will in the future. 69 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: We don't need a God. 70 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 3: There is not existing, and so I was fighting against that. 71 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 3: But in a long, long crisis, things changed. Since I 72 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 3: was a preschooler, I had problems with my weight and 73 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 3: I developed eating disorder. 74 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: It was really terrible. I didn't want to eat anything. 75 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: So that was for a long part. 76 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 3: After that A changed to the other wing, and in 77 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 3: the end I got bullimic. It was my own hell 78 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 3: I made by myself in the fight against this disorder. 79 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 3: At panic attacks, I was not able to leave the 80 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 3: house or get a telephone something. 81 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,559 Speaker 1: I had health issues the whole body. 82 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 3: It was terrible and one day I thought, one night 83 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 3: I'm not able to face another day. I will end 84 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 3: my life. I will commit suicide. And I had all 85 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 3: the means I need to do that. I had a 86 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 3: plan in my head. I said, Okay, I tried everything, 87 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 3: nothing works, so I will end it because I want 88 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 3: everything to end. I want this fight to end. And 89 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 3: thinking about my plan there was a sentence in my 90 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 3: head and it was so so ridiculous at the time. 91 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 3: You haven't prayed yet. What I don't believe in anything? 92 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 3: And what means praying in so I don't know. But 93 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 3: this thought came again and again again, and at some 94 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 3: point I said, Okay, Lord, if you are God, if 95 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 3: you exist, do something, because I'm at the end of 96 00:04:59,040 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 3: my robe. 97 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: I fell asleep at some. 98 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 3: Point and next morning I always woke up when my 99 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 3: husband shut the door, and she was a little bit tight, 100 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 3: so it was loud and some boom and okay, awake, 101 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 3: and my husband is gone, and I felt there's somebody 102 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 3: in the room. I didn't see anybody, but I felt 103 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 3: it like somebody is standing behind you and you can't 104 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 3: see that. I got up and sit on this bed side, 105 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 3: and it's unbelievable because it is like a warm blanket 106 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,359 Speaker 3: and arms wrapped around me. And I've felt such a 107 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,720 Speaker 3: piece I never felt for a long long time. And 108 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 3: I had a voice in my head. I want you 109 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 3: to live, and you can do it with my help. 110 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 3: Funny thing is somebody much much later asked me, why 111 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 3: do you know who was speaking? 112 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: I said, I don't know. It was beyond any doubt. Clear, 113 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 1: that's Jesus. My whole life. I had a wrong thinking. 114 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: It's not true. 115 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,599 Speaker 3: God exists and I don't know why, but he is 116 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 3: interested in me and he wants that I that I live. 117 00:05:57,920 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: Okay. 118 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 4: I love how the Board met Marina when she needed 119 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 4: it most. He showed his love to her, and from 120 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 4: that moment on, she desired to live only for him. 121 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 4: Marina had an entirely new outlook. Her life was changed, 122 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 4: and she wanted to learn about God. 123 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:21,839 Speaker 3: I didn't know anything. I know there's a holiday named Christmas. 124 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,919 Speaker 3: This holiday is named Easton. I don't know anything about that. 125 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 3: And I said, okay, what to do now? The next 126 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 3: thought was I can't tell anybody because they will bring 127 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 3: me in a mental home. That's so unbelievable. And a 128 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 3: friend Oras was a Christian, and she tried to tell 129 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 3: me something about christ and she tried once twice and 130 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 3: then never again because it was really terrible to talk 131 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 3: about me with me about that. And my first thing was, okay, 132 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 3: I have to learn to take up telephone again and 133 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 3: speak with somebody and ask her. And after a time, 134 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 3: why do you ask me all this? I tried to 135 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 3: explain and that it was clear for me, Okay, God exists, 136 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 3: whatever will happen now he exists. I knocked at the 137 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 3: door at the nearest church and said, okay, I want 138 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 3: to be baptized, not exactly knowing what that means. And 139 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 3: the pastor asked me, okay, tell me the date for 140 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 3: your wedding. Is why I'm married. I thought baptism is 141 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 3: something else, because the pastor is in Germany there are 142 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 3: used to baptize people only for a wedding in an 143 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 3: old church building because it's the nicer surrounding that had 144 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 3: nothing to do was believe in the mainline church. He 145 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 3: was so confused and said, okay, well then I have 146 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 3: to teach us a few things. 147 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: They said. 148 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 2: Yes. 149 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 3: He was not only astonished, he was moved because in 150 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 3: a long nobody wants to be baptized out of faith. 151 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 3: So it was really challenge him sent him and yeah, 152 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,679 Speaker 3: it was would be great. After that, I said, okay, now, 153 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 3: well prayers, the ground sabass and everything else will turn out. 154 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 4: So no wonder you have such compassion. You understand what 155 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 4: it's like to be in bondage. Yeah, and feel like 156 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 4: a prisoner. And again I just kept thinking the crutch, 157 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 4: the dependence. It's different in each of these different situations 158 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 4: and in yours, but it's the same. We're turning to something, 159 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 4: some kind of control, some kind of one the intervenes. 160 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 4: I mean we yes, we are to be obedient, we 161 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 4: are to go to the streets, we are go to 162 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 4: the broken. But look how he spoke to you. His 163 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 4: presence was near, and I love that you heard the 164 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 4: voice of the Lord without knowing who he was. And 165 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 4: so that's encouraging for us to pray for these captives, 166 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 4: pray for these people that are in bondage because their 167 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 4: eyes can be opened again. That's the whole new world, 168 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 4: and that's why God is using you. I think this 169 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 4: is encouraging for so many people. You're never too far 170 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 4: gone to be used by God in fast you look 171 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 4: at Paul. Even James, who doubted his brother walked with 172 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 4: him for so long, didn't see it. Once he changes 173 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,959 Speaker 4: your heart and turns your life around, he can use 174 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 4: you in mighty ways. Maybe speak to the person listening 175 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,079 Speaker 4: that says that's me again. The crouch is different, The 176 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 4: dependence is different. 177 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,080 Speaker 3: What would you say, But if you have a relative 178 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 3: who doesn't believe and won't hear anything, Pray, pray. My 179 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 3: father died without Christ. He denied till the end, as 180 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 3: I know, and it was a fight, but I sing, okay, 181 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 3: it's his decision. And I would have loved if he 182 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 3: listened and tried to get out, because he too had 183 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 3: his problems and a share of suffering. But he didn't 184 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 3: want anything to do, even if he saw the changes 185 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 3: in my life. But the only thing we can do 186 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,559 Speaker 3: is pray. The Lord is loving each one of them 187 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 3: much more than we can. 188 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 4: What a powerful testimony. And he definitely saved you out 189 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:17,079 Speaker 4: of such darkness and such desperation. And I think we've 190 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 4: been talking about this lately. Is yes, Jesus can heal, absolutely, 191 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,439 Speaker 4: but sometimes we're still stuck here in this world, this broken. 192 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 4: So do you still struggle? I think we just have 193 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 4: to die daily. We're never done. We are healed, you're saved, 194 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 4: and you're his. But talk about the struggle that you 195 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 4: still face. When you face that, what do you do? 196 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:40,559 Speaker 3: Well? Of course, a struggle eating is something till today. 197 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 3: Who is sometimes difficult and when I'm stressed out or 198 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 3: something like that, or I have anxious feelings sometimes really bad, 199 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 3: and I know, yeah, okay, I don't see the way. 200 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 3: And even though I think, okay, distract yourself or whatever, no, 201 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 3: go to the scriptures. Go to the scriptures and read that. 202 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 3: And so I have my first aid kid with psalms 203 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 3: and scriptures who really speak. 204 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:08,719 Speaker 1: To me in such situations. 205 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 3: I often hear lies in my head and now I 206 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 3: have a booklet and all the common lies that will 207 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:19,439 Speaker 3: come up every time I've written them on and counted 208 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 3: them was Bible and said, okay, now you're hearing that. 209 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: Look at that, because that's wrong. But it's a fight. 210 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 3: And of course sometimes I stumble and I fell and 211 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:30,439 Speaker 3: stand again. 212 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: I said, okay, God is a god of the. 213 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 3: Second third for fifth Francis, and so yeah, and you 214 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 3: need kind of discipline to say, okay, I have to 215 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 3: rule my thoughts. And that's really not easy, but's the 216 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 3: only way. And when I really have a fighting anxious 217 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 3: thoughts or something like that, then I reach out to 218 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 3: people I know who are praying for me, and I 219 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 3: have a prayer team for me for myself. Share everything 220 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 3: with them and they know what's happening in my life. 221 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 3: And so I can say I need my praier warriors 222 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 3: now because I'm fighting so thank. 223 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 4: You for your honesty, because I think people hearing say, well, 224 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 4: she's got it all figured out, and she's you know, 225 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 4: I just want people to know. And I'm not over friends, 226 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:28,680 Speaker 4: but you're right. God's word needs to be our anchor, 227 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,200 Speaker 4: our prayer life, and we need community. I think so 228 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 4: we tend to isolate when we or if we backslide, 229 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 4: we're like, oh, I don't want to share it with anybody. 230 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:36,960 Speaker 4: They'll think I'm a hypocrite. No, they'll know that you're real. 231 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:39,199 Speaker 4: I love that first aid kit and I love that, 232 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 4: like we need to go back to that all the time. 233 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 4: So are there any scriptures you can share with us 234 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 4: that encourage you. 235 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 3: My one verse I got for my baptism was Jessiah 236 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 3: forty three to one. 237 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:53,680 Speaker 1: I called you my name. You are a mine. 238 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 3: This is something that helps me every time because I 239 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 3: belong to the Lord. He told me that you are mine, 240 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 3: and so I'm not the one who directs my life. 241 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 3: And this verse reminds me I have redeemed you. So 242 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 3: he did everything and all the time when I think 243 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 3: I have to do anything, and then I go back 244 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 3: to this verse if I have anxious thoughts, Oh no, 245 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 3: he told me you were a mine. He is the 246 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 3: one who's responsible for you, and so that's the verse 247 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:32,320 Speaker 3: for me, and I love that so much. 248 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 4: I love introducing you to our staff around the world 249 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 4: and allowing you to see their hearts. It's so clear 250 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 4: why the Lord places Marina in this position for such 251 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 4: a time as this, and I love it when God 252 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 4: uses our experiences, our struggles, and even our weaknesses for 253 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 4: his glory. 254 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: That is what we see. 255 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 4: All throughout scripture. God appoints the exact right people at 256 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 4: the right time to accomplish his plans for our good 257 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 4: and his glory. I think of Moses who said to God, 258 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 4: who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and 259 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 4: bring the Israelites out of Egypt, and the Lord used 260 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 4: him despite his doubt or the lack and his own abilities. 261 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 4: Or David, a shepherd boy who later became a powerful 262 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 4: king who was a man after God's own heart. There 263 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 4: are countless stories and examples, and God equips us, but 264 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 4: it doesn't mean that life is going to be easy. 265 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 4: We will face hardships, we will face trials, and as 266 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 4: Marina said, she still experiences hardships and spiritual warfare. But 267 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 4: God goes with us Hebrews thirteen twenty through twenty one says, Now, 268 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 4: may the God of Peace, who through the blood of 269 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 4: the Eternal Covenant, brought back from the dead, our Lord, 270 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 4: Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, equip you 271 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 4: with everything good for doing his will. And may he 272 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 4: work in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, 273 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 4: to be glory forever and ever. Amen. I just love 274 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 4: this reminder that the Lord will equip us with everything 275 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 4: good to do his will. And when we go back 276 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 4: to verse five and six in the same chapter, the 277 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 4: author reminds us that God will never leave us or 278 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 4: forsake us. Verse six says, so we have this confidence. 279 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 4: The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid 280 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 4: what can mere mortals do to me? And we don't 281 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 4: have to fear because nothing in this world can touch us. 282 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 4: We have eternity to look forward to, where Jesus will 283 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 4: wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no 284 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 4: more death or mourning, crying or pain, and again in 285 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 4: our lives here on earth, in the here and now, 286 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 4: the Lord will use us to reach others. And I 287 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 4: love the way that Marina's great grandmother was an example 288 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 4: to her, even though she had animosity towards Christianity and 289 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 4: also love that Marina had a friend who was consistently 290 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 4: sharing the Gospel with her, and then one day picked 291 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 4: up the phone and was able to hear that her 292 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 4: friend had encountered Christ. What a miracle Romans ten thirteen 293 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 4: through fourteen that speaks to this. It says, everyone who 294 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 4: calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 295 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 4: How then will they call on him whom they have 296 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 4: not believed? And how are they to believe in Him 297 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 4: of whom they have not heard? And how are they 298 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 4: to hear without someone preaching? And so I hope this 299 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 4: episode encourages you to share the gospel again and again. 300 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 4: Some people need to hear it many times, and God 301 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 4: will use it in his time. Who can you share 302 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 4: the gospel with for the first time? Who can you 303 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 4: remind the gospel again? I think so many need to 304 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 4: hear it multiple times. And next week you're going to 305 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 4: hear more from Marina. You're going to learn about the 306 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 4: projects of our Germany Office like Alabaster Jar. I know 307 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 4: you'll be encouraged by how God used her and prepared 308 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 4: her for the work that she does now. It's truly 309 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 4: a beautiful testimony of how God redeems us and uses 310 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 4: our weaknesses for his glory. We look forward to having 311 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 4: you back next week. If you know someone who is 312 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 4: struggling today, maybe someone who has surrendered their life to Jesus, 313 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,920 Speaker 4: but they're still battling and having a hard time walking 314 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 4: in their new freedom, will you share this with them. 315 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 4: We all need a spiritual first aid kit, and we 316 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 4: need to be reminded to turn back to Christ over 317 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:27,199 Speaker 4: and over again. And even if someone is walking with 318 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:30,919 Speaker 4: the Lord, we all need to be reminded of this today. 319 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 4: If you loved this episode, Search on the Ground with 320 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 4: Samaritan's Purse, wherever you're listening. We release episodes every week 321 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 4: and they encourage you in your walk with the Lord. 322 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 4: They take you to the front lines and behind the 323 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 4: scenes of our work around the world. And I'm so 324 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 4: excited about an episode that we're working on right now. 325 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:50,640 Speaker 4: It highlights our staff who have faithfully served and share 326 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 4: the Gospel in hard places like conflict zones. I've learned 327 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 4: so much from their perspective and their perseverance and endurance 328 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 4: to run the race even when it's hard. Thank you 329 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 4: so much for tuning in. God bless you. 330 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening. If Marina's story resonated with you, 331 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 2: I encourage you to subscribe to On the Ground with 332 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 2: Samaritan's Purse. They regularly share powerful testimonies of God's work 333 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 2: around the world, and this conversation is one of many 334 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 2: examples of how Christ continues to transform lives. I'll link 335 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 2: to their show in the show notes, and if today's 336 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:27,160 Speaker 2: episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who needs 337 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 2: the reminder that no one is beyond God's reach and 338 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 2: no struggle is beyond his care. Until next time, may 339 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 2: you live as one who truly has been set free.