My Testimony of God’s Faithfulness

“ My testimony of God’s faithfulness ” Speaker:  Esther Bakare Kobe Union Church March 30, 2025

I am so grateful to be here today to share about the faithfulness of God. Life is full of seasons—some are joyful and bright, but others are dark and heavy. I’ve walked through seasons where I felt like I had nothing left to give, where the weight of disappointment, pain, and waiting nearly crushed me　and, of course, I am still in my waiting period, still waiting on God for certain things but now I am waiting with JOY because the Bible says that “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

Maybe some of you here today are in that place—you’re believing, you’re praying, but your situation hasn’t changed. You’re wondering, ‘God, do You see me? Do You care?’

I want to encourage you today: Yes, He sees you. Yes, He cares. And yes, He is working, even when it doesn’t look like it. The Bible says in Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Today, I want to share a few truths that God used to encourage me when I felt weak and overwhelmed—when I walked through some of the toughest seasons of my life.

1: God Cares About Everything That Concerns YouOne of the biggest lies the enemy tries to plant in our hearts during tough times is that our pain is too small for God to care about. That maybe He only steps in for ‘big miracles’ but ignores the daily struggles—the loneliness, the disappointments, the stress, and the heartaches we carry. But that’s not true! The bible says in John 8:44, that the devil is a liar and the father of lies, and there is NO truth in him.  

God said to me; “What matters to you, matters to Me.”

You probably think that's true when it comes to the big stuff like death, disease, and disaster. But what about the smaller things? What about a broken heart, an unanswered prayer, or the dreams that feel delayed? God is not too busy to care about you. In fact, He is intimately involved in every detail of your life.’"1 Peter 5:7 tells us, ‘Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.’ God is not distant. He is close. He is personal. And even in the smallest things, He is working behind the scenes for your good.

I remember the deep brokenness I felt when I got involved in the wrong relationship. The kind of pain that weighed so heavily on me that I sank into deep depression, to the point where I almost ended my life. Yes, you heard me right, I almost committed suicide. In that moment, just as I was about to take my own life, I heard my mum call my name three times. I turned back but saw no one. Instantly I broke down in tears as her voice kept echoing in my head. I didn’t have the courage to go through with it. 

In my darkest moment, God reached down and pulled me out. He sent a friend to walk me through my healing, (ironically, my friend’s name is Lord) to remind me that I wasn’t alone. And He didn’t stop there. Out of that painful season, out of that broken relationship, He gave me the most precious gift—my amazing daughter.

I’ll never forget the day I was standing at a bus stop with my friend waiting for the bus to arrive. A classmate of mine, Selina, saw me and said, “Esther, I’ve never seen you smile. I’ve never seen you this happy.” Her words hit me like a wave. I hadn’t realized how much my pain had been visible to others, how people had noticed the emptiness I carried. And now, they were noticing the change. That day, I realized that God wasn’t just healing me on the inside; His work was so powerful that it was visible to others.

2: God’s Silence Does Not Mean He is Absent

There was a season in my life when I kept praying for change, for breakthrough, for an answer, only to be met with silence. I began to wonder, ‘God, are You even listening?’ Maybe some of you are asking the same thing today. You’ve done everything right, you’ve remained faithful, yet the doors remain closed. The healing hasn’t come. The relationship is still broken. The pain hasn’t lifted.

I wrestled with questions like: ‘If God is really there, why am I here?’ “Why is this taking so long? I’m tired of waiting!” That’s when God spoke clearly to my heart, reminding me about the mystery of His timing. He said, “You are looking at things through the limited lens of time. You are in a straight line—only able to see what’s directly in front of you. But I am outside of time. I see the beginning and the end, and I will answer you in My perfect timing.”

I finally understood that God's silence is not His absence. Just because He isn’t answering the way I expect doesn’t mean He isn’t working behind the scenes.

Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Sometimes, God is not saying ‘no’-----He is simply saying, “Not yet.” Sometimes, He is preparing us for something greater. One day, I asked my mom, “I see so many unbelievers flourishing, but why do Christians go through so much pain and uncertainty?” She looked at me and said, “The greater the assignment, the greater the trials. Destinies are attached to your life, and do you think the devil will just fold his hands and let that come to fruition?” Then she said something that has stayed with me ever since: “You cannot allow the devil to win. So, you have to keep going, keep fighting, and keep trusting God.

When it comes to molding men for His glory, God is a God of process and order. He will never skip a step, because every season, every trial, every delay, every hardship is shaping you for the purpose He has ordained. He’s not in a hurry, but He is always on time.

3: God Redeems Every Season of Pain

If there is one thing I have learned, it is that God never wastes our pain. Every tear, every disappointment, every heartbreak—He uses it for a greater purpose.

Looking back, I now see how God used everything I went through to shape me, refine me, and make me stronger. I think of how I was diagnosed with an illness that required three months of medication costing 3 million yen, and yet God showed up in a miraculous way, and I only paid 1% of that amount! ---30,000 yen instead of a whopping 3 million! God’s is great!

Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Morning will come. Your story is not over. And one day, the very thing that caused you pain will be the testimony that sets someone else free.

Finally: A Call to Hope and Trust

I don’t know what you’re facing today, but I do know this: God is faithful. Oh Yes, HE IS FAITHFUL!!! If He has brought me through the fire and still carrying me through it, He will do the same for you. More than three times He gave me victory over death, and I stand here today to tell you that He will do it for you too. Psalms 23:4 says that Even when you walk through the darkest valley, you will not be afraid, for God is close beside you. His rod and His staff protect and comfort you. A shepherd will never abandon his sheep, especially when they are vulnerable or in danger, so God never abandons us even in our darkest moments. 

Maybe you are tired, burned out, or feel forgotten. But I want to remind you—you are not alone. God is still with you, still moving, still writing your story.

So today, I want to leave you with this promise from Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Hold on. Keep believing. Because what the enemy meant for evil, God is about to turn for good!

Amen!!!

God bless you!