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But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15 (ESV)

Do you sometimes wonder if you really are trusting the Lord? Maybe as a widow, you know the Lord is asking you to step out in faith in your new life, but it’s kind of scary. So you hope that He delivers you from having to take that step by handing you an easier solution.

Sree had to face that realization. We left her in Part 1 of her story right after her husband’s funeral, beginning her journey as a Christian widow raising three boys in a country where it’s not easy to be Christian. If you haven’t read the beginning of her story, take a moment and catch up here.

What happened next

Sree’s in-law family moved into her home, convincing Sree that without her husband, she needed their help. It seemed to Sree that she had no alternative without a husband to support her.

That support, however, came with a price.

The in-laws openly mocked Sree’s faith, blaming Jesus for the death of their son and reclaiming Sree’s family in their own religious traditions.

Her sons were tormented by being told to give up their faith in Christ. They begged Sree to find somewhere else to live where they wouldn’t have their faith shamed for the death of their father.

With tears, she continued to pray daily to God that He show them a door to freedom.

Mom, where is God now?

As the months went by, she could not see that door. She grew sullen and desperate. Her choices were clear—live in poverty or accept that her boys would be raised without their Savior.

Her distress grew along with the tears of her three boys. They cried out to her, reminding her that she told them they could trust their Lord Jesus, but now where was He? That was the moment she knew she could no longer let her boys see her living without courage.

In a moment of misguided desperation, she decided to test God.

In what she thought at the moment was courage, Sree did the unthinkable. She found herself slamming on the brakes in the middle of an intersection. Nine-year-old Zain cried out from the back seat of the car. Tires screeched and horns blared as an oncoming car stopped inches from the left rear passenger door where Zain sat. Sree looked in the mirror at Zain and his two older brothers. “You see? God won’t let me die!”

With horns blaring and her eldest son’s shouts of, “Mom! Zain could have died!”, Sree realized just how foolish her “test” of God’s protection was.

In repentance, she cried out to God right there on the spot. Lord, I didn’t need to test you. I only needed to trust you.

Sree made a decision.

She called her church pastor and elders over and together they prayed over their fear and uncertainty and lack of trust. She would stop allowing someone to teach her boys to worship anyone other than Christ. “Not in this house,” Sree said. For her and her children, they would worship the Lord. (Joshua 24:15).

Sree kindly asked her in-laws to leave her home. She took back the faith she and the boys had chosen, knowing that it meant she would have to work very hard to support the family on her own. That wasn’t an easy step to take. Her financial future looked difficult, but God assured her that she would get the work needed to live. All fear fell away, replaced with the renewed hope and rejoicing in her sons’ cheers.

So how did Sree manage?

Very well! Can you imagine it has now been six years? Her youngest is now a young man. Join us in June for Part 3 of Sree’s story to find out what those boys doing now, and what their faith looks like today.

Abba Father, I know that our pressures, no matter what they are, are no worse or lighter than Sree’s. But I personally take note of the lessons Sree has learned. Help our sisters to know we don’t need to test Your goodness. we only need to TRUST Your goodness. You are amazing, and You carry us and help us overcome!