The fact of God's help from Olga 23.09.2024

Glory to God for everything! Dear brothers and sisters in prayer, I have been reading your testimonies of God’s help for a long time, finding inspiration and rejoicing with you. At the beginning of this year, I "accidentally" heard somewhere that the Akathist to Archangel Michael is prayed for protection against evil forces, so I started praying it. Then I "accidentally" learned about prayer by agreement, and since February 2024, I have been praying together with Bolgar. I chose four Akathists: to Archangel Michael (for protection against evil forces and for the revelation of my purpose), to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (since mass layoffs began at work), to the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon (due to health problems), and to the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (for my children). Given my sins, I probably need even more prayers, but one should not take on too much—only what is within their strength. I reasoned that this was something I could handle. I am, of course, far from a perfect prayerful person, but I find comfort in knowing that the key is perseverance. So I try to remain steadfast. So much has happened over this time that I can't even remember it all! But the most important thing is that my eyes have been opened to who I truly am—a great sinner! I have ruined my soul, harmed my children, and failed to appreciate the golden husband that God gave me. I even led my future husband into the abyss of sin. If not for my sins, my family would have been different. Now all that is left for me is repentance and hope that the Lord will not abandon me in His mercy. I ask for wisdom to correct what can still be fixed and for the Lord’s help, for nothing is impossible for Him. I want to share how the Lord has helped me through the Akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. When I was hired at my job six years ago, I had no experience in the field (only education), yet I was taken in after just one conversation, practically the next day. At the beginning of this year, mass layoffs began in my company. They were letting go of specialists far more qualified than me, and I was terrified of losing my job. I prayed together with others to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and asked for help. Not only was I not laid off, but I was also given a bonus and a salary raise! I have now been working in this company for seven years. I remember that after my first year, I wanted to leave and started going to interviews. I prayed for help to St. Spyridon of Trimythous but always asked, "Let it be as is best for me!" Before every interview, I prayed to Saint Spyridon, asking that I not be hired if the new place would be worse for me. I lost count of how many interviews I attended—everywhere I was well-received, every interview went brilliantly, and yet I was never hired. I had the qualifications, experience, communication skills, and made a great impression, but no job offers came! Looking back, I see that I went through the pandemic while working remotely at my current job. My manager changed, my salary was raised three times (while not everyone in the company received raises), and now, after the pandemic, I can work remotely twice a week, while most others are only allowed once a week. And a month ago, a long-time dream came true—I visited Greece, specifically Corfu, and was able to venerate the relics of St. Spyridon of Trimythous. It was such a miracle that I never cease thanking the Lord. We arrived on a Friday, and I had the blessing of praying to the Akathist together with Bolgar inside the church where the relics of St. Spyridon rest. I was able to venerate them. Glory to God for everything! Glory to You, O Lord, forever!