Silenced but heard by God

In a small school in Afghanistan, there was an art teacher named Nadia who taught children to express themselves through art. The walls of her classroom were adorned with drawings, many of which she had created herself, reflecting her deep frustration and despair over the restrictions imposed on women by the Taliban.

One day, Nadia shared her drawings with a friend, and she couldn't help the tears from overflowing. Three of these drawings captured the life Nadia had once envisioned for herself. Before the Taliban's resurgence, Nadia had been on the verge of becoming a pharmacist, with only one year left to complete her studies. But that dream was stolen from her when the Taliban barred women from working, attending universities and going to school past the 6th grade.

After showing her these drawings, Nadia’s friend embraced her and began to share about God’s plan for their lives. Curious, Nadia asked if her friend was a Muslim. Her friend said no. She then asked if she was a follower of Jesus, and she said yes. Nadia listened intently as her friend said, "Jesus says I am the way, the truth, and the life."

Nadia stared at her silently and then said she had never been forced to follow Islam. Her friend simply listened as Nadia poured out her frustrations, offering a safe space.

Now, with the Taliban’s latest restrictions silencing women’s voices in public, Nadia’s situation reflects the experience of millions of women who have lived through 20 years of a Taliban-free government in Afghanistan, only to see their freedoms stripped away once more.

Despite the overwhelming challenges Nadia and countless other women face, we believe that there is someone greater than their pain and despair, someone who hears their voices and understands their loss. His name is Jesus, he has the power to transform entire lives, and he has called others to go and join him in uplifting these women. But for true transformation from the gospel to occur, Afghanistan urgently needs believers who are willing to commit to staying and building lasting relationships to be a beacon of hope in a land where darkness has taken hold.  The Taliban have silenced their voices, but God hears them and so do we. 

“I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak.”

Ezekiel 34:16