Faith Strengthened Through Persecution
The pain he suffered wasn’t without meaning; it was pain infused with the joy of a more intimate relationship with Jesus. “Persecution is part of our faith,” Akhom said. Referring to the life of Jesus, he explained, “He was persecuted, and he told us in the world we would suffer. But he made sure we knew he overcame the world, so we are following the same model. We have to rejoice in what the Bible tells us. If persecution happens in our life, then it is a privilege to us. It means we are going the right way. We couldn’t see it before, but now I see our trials the Lord allowed us to have. This is strengthening our faith.”
Healing Hearts and Following Jesus
Hassani experienced a similar transformation. His injuries required months of painful reconstructive surgery on his face, but even more significant was the “reconstructive surgery” on his heart. “Before the attack, I did not have any time to be with the Lord to pray,” he recalled. “God was not there in my life. I did not know him as a Good Shepherd. But a new vision came after the attack. My heart was opened to realize the grace of the Lord. I now see him as a Good Shepherd because it is a miracle I am alive!” With joy, he thanks God for the prayers and medical assistance other Christians provided during his time of need.
“It is exactly as the Bible says,” Hassani continued. “I can never forget the blessing God sent to me. Because of him, I’m alive. He showed me mercy.” Now, Hassani said, he must do the same with his attackers. He seeks to follow the example of Jesus: “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:21-23).
Courage and Joy in Christ
No longer playing it “safe,” no longer experiencing the emptiness of a halfhearted commitment to Jesus, Hassani and Akhom choose to trust in Jesus and stand for him in a country where his message is not welcome. They walk in the confidence of 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Armed with the power of God’s love and filled with the joy of knowing Jesus, Hassani spoke for both of them when he said, “We are praying for those persecutors who are killing us, that they may know the truth. I feel sorry for them and for those who are far from the Lord. They are really suffering.”
THE END
Date: 13th December 2025
Martyr: Akhon and Hassani
Location: Egypt
Source: The Voice of the Martyrs “I am n”
Author: Not specified
Suffering Saturday 173
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