DAY 38

Sharun Samuel & Kezhia Thomas | Re:Hope West End

My husband and I felt God leading us to Scotland and, by His grace, my husband was able to secure a work transfer in August 2025. Prior to this, we were living in different countries, praying and asking God to allow us to settle down together in the same place. However, in the same month as his move, the company I was working for filed for bankruptcy.

All of a sudden, we went from two incomes down to one. Having just moved, paid significant visa fees, and taken on new financial commitments, we didn't know how we were going to make it through. But we saw God move. Every single month from August to December, God provided the equivalent of my salary through unexpected tax refunds, bonuses, and other sudden blessings. Not only were all of our expenses covered; He also blessed us with a fully funded trip to Dubai and Kuwait! God truly went above and beyond. Beyond the financial blessings, our trust in Him grew exponentially. Looking back, we realized our faith had been shallow and we had drifted. And yet, He remained constant. It was a season of learning in which I saw God’s immense favor and His love relentlessly pursuing us.

When I lost my job in August, I knew in my heart of hearts that God was pushing me toward a PhD, but I had no idea how it would be possible. How would I secure a scholarship? How would everything come together? I faced countless rejections for both job and PhD opportunities, and I struggled to understand God’s plan. Yet in that season, inspired by a sermon from Brian, we decided as a family to thrive in our waiting.

In December, a professor who had previously interviewed me reached out, encouraging me to apply for a new opportunity. The Holy Spirit kept nudging me that this was where God was leading me. I interviewed for both the position and the scholarship but, at the very last stage, I was rejected. Even then an unexplainable, Spirit-filled peace—the peace that surpasses all understanding—guarded our hearts. We knew we were in God’s plan. Just a few weeks later, I received an acceptance with a full scholarship! As an international student, this felt humanly impossible, but God made the impossible possible. I had even prayed for a break from work before starting a PhD, and it's amazing to look back and see how lovingly God orchestrated even that detail.

All glory and praise belong to Him. Through every trial, our greatest takeaway has been this: God loves us, and He pursues us. No matter the circumstance, His perfect love always persists. He does not just meet our needs; He orchestrates our path with purpose, beauty, and grace.