Natalie

As a daughter of a military officer in Soviet Russia, I was taught from early childhood that there was no God and if you followed Communist doctrine, you would be a happy, average citizen. In my family we never talked about God or anything that had to do with religion. My grandparents were dedicated Communists, my dad was a Communist, and I was supposed to become another follower of this utopian system. Plans changed, however, with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Religious freedom came to Russia, but not into our family. However, one day when I was 17, I found myself on my knees praying to the God of the Universe. At that time I was going through exams to get admitted to college, and my examination papers were lost. University bureaucracy did little to help me, and I was in desperate need of some supernatural power that would help me be admitted. For one week I prayed and asked God to interfere and do a miracle. He responded, my papers were found, and I was accepted into the university!

God was there for me. But was I there for him? I was perplexed by my sudden desire to talk to God. No one had ever told me that God even existed. He was waiting for me to admit that I needed him every minute of my life. However, my faith was weak and the busyness of life, peer pressure and college parties disoriented me and kept me from pursuing a relationship with Him. Looking back, I realize that my focus was wrong. I was self-centered and prayed to God only because I was in need, and at the same time I was quite comfortable leading a sinful life.

But God never failed. He had a sovereign plan for me. He was talking to me even though I was not listening. Through a friend of mine He led me to a church, and I started reading the Bible. I did not understand much at first, but I wanted to know more about him.

Talking to my parents about my faith was never an option. When they found out that I was going to church, they were furious. They did not let me go to church, saying that it was a sect and all those people wanted was money.

Again, Satan drew me back to secular pleasures. I did not regularly go to church or pray. At the same time, I was tired of living a senseless life, and I did not want the lifestyle of my friends or relatives. I am now thankful to God that despite all my rebellious behavior, he kept me from making mistakes that I would regret later.

God continued to reveal his plan to me, and after graduating from college in Russia I went to Slovakia for graduate studies. At the time it was a nice opportunity to escape from Russia and prove to everyone that I was worth something. However, I also met my future husband, who was from Ukraine. Pavlo was quite different from the rest of the students. Brought up in a Christian family, persecuted by people like my Dad, he had a strong faith, unlike mine. He was the one who questioned my beliefs and my convictions. He was the one who explained to me that a personal relationship with God was more than just asking God for help when I needed it. He told me about his salvation and what it meant to him. I felt like God was talking to me through that young guy even though I was trying to prove to Pavlo that I was happy without giving up my sinful life. One day all those conversations resulted in the realization that I now too believed in God, and I asked Jesus to forgive me and be my Savior and friend.

I also realized that we were in love with each other. Graduation and leaving for different countries seemed so inappropriate, but it was absolutely necessary. Only when I was away from Pavlo did my new faith grow stronger, and I started growing in my relationship with Christ. God continued to surprise me. First He sent me to Germany for additional studies. There I kept going to church regularly and was baptized. I learned how to be a Christian in a non-Christian environment. I also learned how to trust God and let Him take control of my life, because this is the only way to be God’s child.

Meanwhile, Pavlo immigrated to the US. God also made all the arrangements for me to come to America as well. We got married, and trust God to continue to lead and bless us.

My life has changed completely since the time I made the first steps in my Christian faith. No matter what the difficulties are, I always trust that His plan is the best for us. He keeps teaching me that if I trust him 100%, he will bless me and he will take care of all other things. And in this His name will be glorified. Romans 8:28 says that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I know this verse has been true in my life, and I am sure he has a good plan for my parents in Russia as well. In fact, they visited us, and Wooddale, 3 months ago, and I see God working in their lives. It is just a matter of time, isn’t it?