God's Promises Never Fail

Like Israel in the Bible, I am looking forward, but before I can I have looked back at what God has done for me. I know that God is always with me and my heart is full of thankfulness for what he has done.

When I was 23 I married Percy. Ten months into my marriage God blessed us with a son, Praveen, which made our family very happy. But that happiness did not last long. When he was 9 months old he died from meningitis.

This unexpected death shook my life and I was so upset and depressed I could not go to work and cried all day for my son. During that time a number of questions came to my mind. Has God forsaken me? What had happened to the promise of God? Why has this happened to my life? I knew I was a good Sunday school teacher, VBS teacher, in the choir, youth fellowship and served God in all walks of the ministry. In spite of that, why why why has this happened in my life? A lot of questions but no answer.

Months passed. I had 3 miscarriages and doctors advised me I could not have any more children. My life became dark and helpless. I lost my job, my peace, I lost everything.

One night I cried myself to sleep. In my sleep I heard a voice say 'What I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter' - John 13:17. The following day in my depressed mood I didn't want to understand the meaning of these words.

One day, months later, my father in law, a pious man, came to me and narrated the story of Job. He then told me 'God will surely bless you twice like Job, and your latter end more than your beginning'. He advised me 'rise, shine, do the best, leave the rest to God'. These words gave me the strength to mend my broken heart. I turned promises into song and the disappointments into prayer.

Subsequently Keren was born. We named her after Job's first daughter. 18 months later we were blessed with Kezia, named after Job's second daughter. God blessed me twice, as he had Job. Prayer brings victory and I learned to trust God.

God continued to bless me and I served him faithfully in many ways. Then I started a school which I named after my son 'Praveen Memorial Nursery and Primary school'. Our motto is 'Rise, shine, do the best, leave the rest to God.' Our school aim is to uplift the underprivileged in our society. We started with 3 children and 1 teacher. I am proud to say there are 300 students and 15 staff, all learning about Jesus along with their normal studies. We also provide advice and support to women.

My daughters now live in Huddersfield having studied at the university. Now I understand John 13:17. God's promises never fail though in God's time, not ours. Twenty five years on, as my father in law prophesied, I am blessed twice. I thank God for His strength and guidance in the midst of problems, and I thank St Thomas' church for the opportunity to share my story.

'Now I appeal to you brothers and sisters by the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ that all of you be in agreement and that there be no division among you but that you be united in the same mind and the same purposes' 1 Corinthians 1:10.

We may differ in culture creed, language, colour, food, habits and lifestyle etc but in Christ we are one. I thank God for these wonderful words. May God bless you.

Premlatha Percy.
Praveen Memorial Nursery and Primary School
Plot 28, Nethaji Road,
Ganesh Nagan,
Guindy,
Chennai 600088
Poppy_Percy@yahoo.co.in

This story is an edited version. Full version available on the church notice board.