Blessed Beyond the Storm: A Testimony of Grace

Blessed Beyond the Storm: A Testimony of Grace

By Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar

The Creator has brought me through storms so fierce they should have torn me apart, through earthquakes that should have shattered my foundation. Many have looked at me and said, “Kateb, I have no idea how you made it through what you’ve been going through. I would have cracked. You are truly favored somebody has definitely been praying for you.” And I know they are right.

But let me tell you, reader, I am not perfect. I have my faults. I have made mistakes, both major and minor. I have made bad decisions regarding my life, myself, others, and my family. I have walked roads that, in hindsight, I should have never set foot on. And yet, through it all, the Creator never let me fall beyond redemption.

I have recognized my wrongs. I have sought redemption, not just in word but in action. And even those who wronged me—those who spoke ill of me, who turned their backs, who sought to see me fall I forgave them. Not just in silence, but openly, both in my heart and in my actions. Because I have come to understand that harboring resentment only builds walls between me and the blessings the Creator has in store for me.

I see the change in myself. I am not so quick at the mouth anymore. I do not let my ego edge the Creator out of my decisions. I do not engage in the endless cycle of tit for tat, of seeking to hurt just because I have been hurt. I do not slander or defame, and I do not allow a lustful spirit to govern me. These changes did not come overnight. They required effort, prayer, and a constant striving toward the light. Temptations still come, as they always will. But with the Creator on my side, I have been able to box them and win.

The Creator knows my heart. He sees my struggles, my growth, and my efforts to be better. And for that, I truly believe He blesses me even when I fall. Even when I stumble, His mercy does not abandon me. His grace does not run dry. His love does not waver.

And so, reader, I say this to you keep striving. Do not let this world harden your heart. Do not be petty, hateful, or angry. Do not let bitterness take root in your soul. Yes, temptations will come. The desire for revenge, the pull toward negativity, the easy way out these things will whisper to you, but you must resist.

Do not take counsel from those who do not walk with the Creator. Do not allow people without faith, without light, to steer your path. Instead, seek wisdom. Seek those who uplift, encourage, and remind you of who you are in the eyes of the Divine.

My grandmother Celestine used to say, "A tree that fights the wind loses its branches, but the one that bows survives the storm." I didn’t understand it as a child, but I do now. Humility, faith, and trust in the Creator are not signs of weakness they are the very things that keep us standing when life’s storms rage. The proud tree may seem strong, but when the wind comes, it snaps. The humble tree bends, but it is still rooted. So bend when you must, trust the Creator’s wind, and know that He will not uproot what He still has a purpose for.

She also told me, "A bitter well quenches no thirst, and an empty hand catches no blessings." I have seen the truth of this in my own life. Holding on to anger, grudges, and hatred only leaves your spirit dry. If you want the Creator’s blessings to flow, you must be a vessel that is open and filled with love, grace, and kindness. If your hands are clenched in resentment, how can you receive what He is trying to give you?

And above all, never give up. No matter how bad the rain is in your life, no matter how fierce the storm, have faith. He will no, He shall get you through. Keep up your prayers. Keep doing good. Keep extending kindness, even when it is not returned. Keep your heart pure, your hands clean, and your soul anchored in righteousness.

Because one day, we will all stand before our Creator. One day, we will be held accountable for everything: our words, our actions, and the way we treat people. And know this: there is not a single leaf that falls without His knowledge. Nothing escapes Him. So get your house in order. Do right by yourself and others. Treat people the way you want the Creator to treat you on Judgment Day.

As I write this, tears fall from my eyes, because I know the weight of these words. I know the mercy I have received. And I pray that you, too, will walk in that mercy, that you will rise above, that you will strive, that you will be all that the Creator has called you to be.

May the Creator bless you and keep you.

Love ❤️ Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar.