Raneil Thompson: Staying faithful to God in the hard times
IT WAS nothing but strong faith that allowed Raneil Thompson and his family to keep going even when they did not have the means to do so.
Thompson, who is only 22 years old, is no stranger to hard times and severe hunger.
He told Family & Religion of a time in his life when he and his family struggled beyond belief to make ends meet.
“As a young man, I went through hardship. I could hardly find food because of the lack of money and could hardly bathe because of (the) inadequacy of water. We had to walk with buckets of water to and fro because we never had any for 10 years and seven months.
“We used to iron our clothes on a piece of ply board, using a piece of cloth to cover it. We used a coal iron to get ironing done.
“I used to walk and beg. People were embarrassed and ran me away from their gates. People stared and looked down on us, but God pulled us through,” he said.
Admitting that he was a Christian living in a Christian household at the time, Thompson said that his family prayed a lot and stayed faithful to God, even walking the hour-long journey to church and then back when they found themselves without fare for transportation.
QUESTIONED GOD
But there were times when he was disheartened by his situation and questioned God.
“I’d say, ‘God, why me? Why this have to happen to me? Why mi neva inna a family that has everything good?’,” he said, adding that at times he would cry with regret that he had been born into that family.
Today, Thompson testifies that God took him from the ground to a place where he can help himself and his family.
According to him: “God turned it around and through the hardship, God showed me that I am the one who will move the family to better days.”
And although things aren’t where he wants them to be, Thompson expressed gratitude for how far he’s come.
“I am almost there. I feel it. God is going to give me that breakthrough that I am waiting for. It’s like I am crossing a bridge now and I’m almost on the other side to step into my blessing,” he said, adding that in the meantime, he would continue to be faithful.