My brother and I were approximately 10 weeks old when we were adopted. The story of the Lord’s faithfulness and love in my life began even before I was born. As Psalm 139:15-16 states, “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body.” The entire chapter of Psalm 139 has always been a favorite of mine, as it truly encapsulates the love and deep care the Lord has for each one of us. This message came alive to me once I learned my birth story.

Isaiah 49:15 says, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Truly, the Lord had not forgotten us from the time we were born.

Growing up, I experienced significant physical, emotional, mental, and sexual abuse. I struggled with insecurity, rejection, and a longing for a sense of belonging. At the age of four, I began to stammer. School was a particularly challenging environment where I was perceived as a silent, unintelligent child with a stammer. Expectations from others were low, and soon, I gave up on myself. I consistently failed at school, had no friends, and experienced a profound sense of loneliness.

However, one of my teachers in the 7th grade began to encourage and support me. She believed in me and stood up for me, which gave me confidence and a glimmer of hope. I began to work hard and prayed that God would help me study and pass my examinations. By the grace of God, I not only passed but excelled in all my exams. In my 12th grade, I prayed to the Lord to score 85% in my exams, and He honored that prayer. I graduated with my name on the “academic excellence” board. I thank the Lord for never giving up on me, as I could not have excelled without His grace.

Despite my academic success, I continued to struggle emotionally and mentally. I suppressed many feelings and became emotionally numb, as it seemed to be the only way to cope. Later in college, after attending a sexual abuse awareness talk, I began to open up to my professor about the abuse. She was truly God-sent. Being a believer, she prayed for and counseled me. However, deep within, I blamed God for the abuse. It was not until much later, when I went to Mumbai to pursue my Master’s degree, that I was introduced to a church where I learned that God was not to blame. He gave human beings free will, and what we do with it is on us, not on God.

In that church, I began to understand and experience the love of God, something I had never experienced before. I started to see Him as my Father and felt a deep comfort and love through His word. His words of comfort in the Bible—”You are the apple of my eye,” “I am fearfully and wonderfully made,” “I have loved you with an everlasting love”—brought life and healing to me. I slowly started to find my identity in Jesus and felt secure and safe in His love. I finally understood to whom I belonged, and that no one could take that away from me.

My life would not have turned out the way it has if it weren’t for Jesus. I am in awe and full of gratitude for the Lord’s love and mercy that have met me time and time again. In good times and bad, He has been my constant shoulder to lean on. Jesus was my Father and God even before I was born, and He continues to be an amazing Father and my God now and forever.