I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 NIV
Saied is just 17 years old. “I’ve recently believed in Jesus,” he declares. It’s a bold step because Saied lives in Iraq.
”When I became convinced that God was listening to me,” Saied says, “a deep sense of peace and comfort filled me.” That peace mattered to a teenager struggling with disappointment and hurt in his relationships. He shares: “My interest in Christianity began in childhood when I saw the lives and character[s] of Christians around me. However, I became afraid of leaving my religion because of what I had heard about the consequences.”
Then a Bible verse on Instagram caught his attention: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?” (Psalm 121:1 NIV). “This gave me the desire to read the Bible and know more about Christ. My family strongly opposed my reading of the Bible, and I went through a very difficult time emotionally,” he admits.
Behind that Instagram account was a team of Jesus-followers ready to respond when Saied reached out by direct message. A real conversation, a friendship, began between Saied and a counselor. The conversation gave him someone to talk with as he explored what following Jesus meant. “I learned that true love and security can be found in the infinite God,” the young man shares. Through their many conversations, Saied’s fear of leaving the religion he had been raised in was broken. “I’ve been learning more about Jesus through the Bible and Christian programs on the Instagram page.”
The Bible verse that caught Saied’s attention, “Where does my help come from?” has become personal. Saied has learned to turn to Jesus. Many like Saied are still searching. You can send programs like the ones helping Saied grow in his faith to millions around the world in their own languages. Give a gift today at guidelines.org.
