A TURN OF TRANSFORMATION | KAIROS GLOBAL | FEBRUARY 2021

Author: Sumol Pious

Intro: Sumol Pious attended her first JY meeting while expecting her third child. That turn, of experiencing Jesus as never before transformed her into a totally new person.

Every soul has a tale to share, a tale of their transformation in life – a turn that takes them to a life of peace and joy – a journey that comes with many ups and downs,  an experience of bliss where you get the opportunity to love and to be loved by many other beautiful souls.

One such journey I took, though a little late in other’s eyes, was the perfect time in His plan. I was called to a Jesus Youth meeting when I was pregnant with my third child. Those initial days in the movement I came to know about the beauty of sitting with the Lord for night vigil at our parish church. The first time I learned the song ‘YES Lord’, I offered my life to him. It was very different from what I had experienced before. The sharing of Word of God, quiet and serene prayerful moments, the praise and worship, the Adoration, all took me to another level of being with our Lord. It was first-of-a-kind in my life.

Through the initial retreat we became more involved in the movement and got to acquire the JY spirituality step-by-step. Attending the Leaders’ Training was another milestone in my life where I met many leaders from around the world and where my perspective about my call changed. Many trainer’s lives influenced and inspired me to run the extra mile and to break out of my own comfort zone. I can see now how the Lord used me, engulfing me in his grace in myriad ways. By being a part of various ministries, I enjoyed the beauty of fellowship. 

Without my realising it, I was being made a new creation in Christ; He started to transform me – a process that is still going on. My personal relationship with my Lord became more loving and meaningful to me. I can see the Word of God urging me to do something good or to embrace the risk zone rather than just reading and leaving it, like the seed that fell on rocky ground. Now I can see good in all, understand others and accept them easily. I can see God’s hand in everything that happens in my life. My Lord’s grace has been overflowing in my life since I started to walk with him. He made all the difference in me and my life is now full of hope in him. 

The best thing that happened to us was starting the Pakistani JY group in Muscat. They were very enthusiastic as they had no Urdu Mass or prayer meetings till that time in our parish. Many of them drifted to Pentecostal groups. By the grace of God, as a result of the prayer group, many people returned to the Catholic faith and our church began Urdu Mass for them once in a month. Every Friday their group gathers and as a part of their effort, a member who went back to Pakistan initiated a group there and JY is growing there too. It’s beautiful to see how God uses us when we say a YES to him, he will take us to places we have never dreamt of in our life. He uses us to build his Kingdom in a wonderful way that we ourselves cannot comprehend.

That doesn’t mean that my life is a bed of roses. I too went through a lot of rejection and dejection as a result of my near and dear ones. Those incidents were extremely painful that I even questioned my taking this turn in life. But instead of falling down completely, my Lord always made me stronger and even more perseverant. He convinced me that without his knowledge nothing happens and everything happens for my good. He taught me to embrace everything with a smile, to love my enemies or to forgive them and to do good to them. Even my attitude and perspective towards my work has changed since I found him. There is novelty in everything. It amazes me how my life has changed! I simply am not the same person I was a few years ago.

Being a mother of four and a working woman has always made me bite more than I could chew. But I feel happy and joyful to do anything that Lord asks me to. Our house is always open for all JY activities. My better half and my children do their best while I actively participate in my ministry and responsibilities.   

Walking with the Lord is a journey where we can identify our true selves, and trusting him is like having a beautiful life with him in all its ups and downs. By acknowledging him as our Lord and Savior, he will transform us slowly and steadily into his own image – just as I became the precious daughter of my God. When we are under the love and protection of Abba Father, what else do we need in life? 

Sumol Pious is a higher secondary school teacher working in Muscat, Oman.