Faith Through Tragedy Strikes Sri Lanka
On Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, Sri Lanka was struck by a series of coordinated bombings targeting churches and hotels. Among the victims was Elaisha Debbie, a six-year-old girl who lost her sight, her parents, and one of her brothers in the bombing of Zion Church in Batticaloa. Despite this unimaginable loss, Debbie holds onto hope. Her mother had given her a Bible with the message, "Always take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Debbie dreams of becoming a Sunday school teacher and sharing the message of Jesus. She says, "Jesus has already made eyes for me. He will give it to me when my time comes."
God's Strength Through Suffering
Rebekah Arasarathanam, who survived the same bombing with third-degree burns, found her faith in Jesus strengthened rather than diminished. "He is our strength by which we can live through these tough times," she shared, as she rededicated her life to Jesus.
Pastor Ganeshamoorthy Thirukumaran, who lost his teenage son in the attack, reflects on the strength found in Jesus' own suffering. "We worship Jesus who was crucified on the cross. He has warned us in the Bible that similar atrocities can be done against us as well, so we have to be strong like he was."
Faith Strengthened After Loss
Despite the devastation, a spirit of forgiveness and renewed faith emerged among the survivors. Praba, who lost her eight-year-old son Peter, found her faith deepening. "Now everything else comes second. I am putting God first now," she explained, having resumed her ministry and teaching Sunday school.
Hussain, a Muslim man, witnessed a miracle when his wife was healed at a church after being rejected by mosques. "Unlike other places, they accepted us, and my wife received healing. That day, we accepted Christ as our Lord and Saviour," he recounted.
These stories of hope and faith amidst tragedy remind us that Jesus' presence is powerful, even in the darkest of times. Survivors like Debbie, Rebekah, and Praba continue to inspire with their resilience and unwavering faith in Jesus.
