“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (ESV)

Bitterness can’t withstand the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. That’s what God revealed after bringing me through the Rwandan genocide.

When I was only 6, my grandmother and uncle — who were taking care of me — were both killed by our neighbors when tribal unrest broke out in Rwanda. My whole life was shattered. The little faith I had was gone, and I often wondered why my life was spared in those months of horror.

A first glimpse of hope came into my life when I received my Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift. At my orphanage, many children were displaced, so to have my own gift was special. Joy overwhelmed me, as I had toys to play with and a comb I kept for years, but the most profound impact was realizing someone around the world was thinking about me. That planted a seed of hope during a time when I felt lost.

A year later, God began revealing the miracles He’d done to save my life. I gave my life to the Lord and started abiding in Him daily, as Jesus instructs in John 15:5:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

The more I abided in God, the more He pruned away my bitterness. Abiding was the only way I could heal from such pain.

In my healing process, I prayed that I’d meet those who killed my family. While I wanted to face the people responsible for so much pain in my life, I also prayed God would give me strength to forgive. God diligently weeded out the bitterness in my heart, making room for His fruit of forgiveness.

In 2013, on a return trip to Rwanda, God answered my prayer. I visited the man responsible for killing my uncle, and by God’s grace, I shared that I forgave him.

What started with a shoebox gift led to my salvation, healing and ultimately miraculous forgiveness.

I’m not perfect at abiding in God. For a time, I was even angry at God for my pain — but in anger, I was blinded to the miracles God did to save me and glorify His name. I’m challenged to abide in Jesus daily because my healing process is ongoing.

We may never forget pain, but we don’t have to live bound to bitterness. I pray you take your next step toward forgiveness. Do you need to stop blaming Jesus for past hurts and instead accept Him as your Lord and Savior? Do you need to forgive someone or ask for forgiveness? Or you may live in peace, but you still need to share the gospel with someone. Whatever the case, may you abide in Jesus and allow Him to transform your heart.

God, thank You for forgiving our sins against You. Uproot bitterness in our hearts, and bear forgiveness in us as a fruit of Your Spirit. As You walk us through healing, help us abide in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

Receiving an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift was a defining moment in Alex Nsengimana’s life. Since receiving his shoebox gift, Alex was adopted into a Christian family in Minnesota. Today, Alex travels around the country sharing about the impact of Operation Christmas Child and God’s transforming message of forgiveness.

When you pack a shoebox through Operation Christmas Child, you share God’s love with children around the world. Learn how to pack here, and help Proverbs 31 Ministries reach our goal of packing 500 online shoebox gifts!

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

John 15:6-9, “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love” (ESV).

Who is someone in your life God has asked you to forgive?

What step do you need to take today toward healing and forgiveness? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

© 2024 by Alex Nsengimana. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Operation Christmas Child for their support of She Speaks Conference and Encouragement for Today Devotions.

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