A testimony by Sheeba Samuel.

“Lord I know it’s not possible to conceive, at least you can take away the desire to be a mother.” I began to pray this with a heaviness in my heart after a year of being married. But nothing changed initially. Then came the miracle.

I was married in May  2007 and ever since then I always wanted to conceive. Being thirty-three years old, almost 40% over weight with thyroid reports that were unstable my chances were next to none. When people around asked if there was any ‘good news’, it  pricked me daily, because in my heart I knew I may never conceive at least naturally as it was just not possible .Throughout my ordeal my husband was very supportive – he just knew God would come through. It was my family and my Church that stood by and prayed for me non stop

I was born in a nominal Christian family. I gave my life to Jesus two decades ago, when I was 14 years old. Life seemed all hunkey-dorey. As a young lady I was working and earning well in Mumbai. Suddenly one day I noticed a lump in my neck. I ignored the lump. But later found that I had to go through a surgery. I least expected it to be malignant (thyroid). I was operated upon three times in one year (2005) lost count of the times I have been in and out of hospital unsure of the occurrence of the disease again.  Unmarried then, my whole world came to a standstill. But miraculously God brought me out of it after 3 surgeries and 2 radiation therapy sessions on my body, I least expected a miracle… Allan (my friend then) in spite of knowing about my condition unlike me had faith for my healing. Before leaving, my oncologist told Allan and me I may never conceive, but that did not stop Allan from marrying me.

Throughout my ordeal my husband was very supportive – he just knew God would work a miracle. It was my family and my Church that stood by and prayed for me nonstop.

Members of my Church – ‘Tree of Life’, which meets in Santacruz, Mumbai, encouraged me to read the story of Hannah in the Book of 1 Samuel and I started to read it every day. In her  pain of wanting to be a mother, Hannah cried out to the Lord in the bitterness of her soul .I wanted to know how does one reach there – in the bitterness of soul her spirit must have been crushed. It goes on to say Hannah lay with her husband – and the lord remembered her! That was the sentence I held on to, Lord if you could remember Hannah you will remember me – AND HE DID!

In course of time, I did a home pregnancy test and to my amazement it was positive without any medication whatsoever. When I went to my Doctor she nodded her head and told me it was not possible and asked me to do a blood test and a scan and not to rely completely on the home test. When I did the tests, it was confirmed that I was already carrying 3 weeks, – my joy knew no bounds! Even after almost five doctors had told me I may never conceive Jesus had other plans! Praise the Lord and to Him be the Glory!

On 14th Oct 2009 at 2:43 pm Azriel Samuel Passanha took his first breath in this world, He was created for me by God himself – he has no trace of any sickness that I ever carried in me. My doctor finally confessed that it was the prayers and my God that made this possible. On his name, Azriel means ‘God is my help’ and the name Samuel was selected as a testimony to the story of Hannah and how God answered the cry of her heart – ‘So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.” (I Samuel 1:20)

I could see the hand of God on him from the moment he was born. I held him close to me, my biggest miracle from God. I share this testimony for the Glory of God and I want every woman going through a similar situation to be encouraged. I want you to know that if God can do it for me; HE WILL DO IT FOR YOU! Don’t give up on Him because He won’t give up on you.

I don’t know how complicated your body is or what sickness you carry. All I know is there is a God who is bigger than all of that and He will come through. God was faithful till the end and He kept his word. I will testify of His faithfulness and mercy to me till my last breath.

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The Miracle of Azriel