The fact of God's help from Nina 01.05.2024

Oh, what a miracle—to stay silent would be to betray God! When my boyfriend started working as a musician in a nightclub, it was as if he became a different person. He changed—became colder, more distant, stopped messaging like before, and the warmth in our relationship disappeared. I began praying for us on Fridays with the Akathist to the Mother of God before Her icon "Seeker of the Lost." Every night before bed, I also recited a short prayer from the Akathist three times. Additionally, I submitted his name for prayer in Bolgar and at the cell of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous. I prayed that he would quit smoking, stop drinking at the club, and not fall into temptation. It was incredibly difficult to pray—constant doubts and temptations arose. I kept thinking, "Do I even need this?" He showed no warmth, no attention. He worked nights and slept all day, everything felt like a fog. My friends told me I shouldn’t pray for him—that I should pray for myself instead. They said, "You’re not married, who is he to you…?" But I felt sorry for him—just as a human being. He was a kind person, supporting his entire family—his parents and sisters. I didn’t want him to be lost. And then—after six months of prayer—he called me and said he had decided to quit drinking completely! My heart was filled with such joy and grace that it stayed with me for days. Even now, when I remember it, my soul feels light. He also told me he wants to find a job as a music teacher here in the UAE. This testimony is in gratitude to Saint Nicholas. Pray for one another! As the Lord Himself said: "Bear one another’s burdens."