by Melissa de Lange

On the 30^th of January 1986 I was born at 11:00 in the morning. My journey into this world wasn’t an easy one. When my mom went for her check up at the doctors she didn’t know that she was in labor. She never experienced any labor pains or feel any symptoms. The doctor then rushed her to the hospital and that’s where all hell broke loose. I was laying transverse which the doctors never picked up in any scans. They rushed her to the emergency room where she had an emergency C-section. When I finally came out I didn’t breath for 20 minutes. The doctors confirmed that I would be a vegetable (what a nasty way to describe disabled people!), and that I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed. My mom would have to feed me with a tube. I wouldn’t be able to walk, talk, run or play. (I guess they were wrong again! All Glory be to God!)

I was in the ICU incubator for 10 days and during this time my parents couldn’t hold me; they could only touch me through the holes in the cradle. On one occasion the paediatrician came to my mom to tell her she would have to put me in a home because I wouldn’t be able to have a normal life. That broke my mom and that’s when she decided to invite all of the pastors to come to the hospital to pray. The following day I nursed for the first time like any other baby.

You see, when my mother was still pregnant with me there was a nasty incident. My parents had a lady helping them around the house and one day mom had asked her to do something. She replied with a sarcastic “NO”. Mom then proceeded to ask her to leave and that’s when she returned with a bucket of white stuff which she threw all over mom’s tummy. Mom’s pregnancy was otherwise normal and there were no complications until she went into labor.

Longing for Acceptance

I was discharged after 10 days. Mom had my room all done up in pink (can only imagine!). My brother was the one to make me laugh loud for the first time. They were all so happy! I did everything a normal baby could do but I struggled at times. I was referred to The Brown’s School where I started with physio therapy. I joined the school after that and attended creche. I only started walking at the age of 4 years old.

Growing up was hard. Wherever we went people used to stare and laugh (that really hurt the most). No one asked why I was sitting in a pram. My gran told me that when I just started walking I used to walk with my legs wide apart for balance. Honestly being at a school for the disabled that was the only place I really felt accepted. My whole life I knew that I was different but I had this burn deep down inside that when I grew up that I would be “normal” and accepted.

Spiritual Sight

I was quite young when I started seeing things, probably around 4 years of age. The very first thing I really took notice of was a little boy who used to run around in our backyard. At first I didn’t say anything to anyone because it seemed nobody else saw him. One day he had asked me to follow him through the banana trees but my mom called me inside just then. I can’t recall seeing him again after that day but from then on, things spiralled out of control. We moved around a lot and in every house we lived in, I saw things.

Honestly sitting here looking back, it brings tears to my eyes to think of the things I could see – and no one believed me at first. It got so bad to a point where I started sleeping in my parents room until I was about 14 years old. I was so scared these things wouldn’t leave me alone.

An Unhappy Life

I could never explain why, but I always was just so nasty to everyone, even to my friends at school. I would just get angry for the slightest reason, it destroyed a lot of my friendships and relationships. This went back and forth for years. I started smoking at the age of 16 started drinking at the age of 18 and so on. But I could never take drugs. I remember being suicidal. All I wanted to do was die. That was my biggest wish in life. Oh, I tried to commit suicide twice before (not proud of it but its true).

I went to counsellors, psychologists, pastors even and nothing seemed to help or work. In 2018 our house caught alight, just like that, without any storm or any other reason. Thank the Lord again no one was hurt. After that, things seemed to get worse so we then got in contact with these pastors. They came and cleared our home. It seemed to have worked for everyone else but not for me. I was still seeing things but they were the most ugliest things I have ever seen in my life.

Things used to come flying out of my room, my name was being called at all times when no one was home. There’s just so much that happened during the course of my life. I recall a nun that used to stand outside of the window whilst I would be washing dishes and she would just suck the life right out of me. That was when I had enough and decided to take control.

A Change

I contacted those same pastors and explained what was going on. They took months to get back to me so I gave up. One day I received a call from the pastor inviting me to go to church that Sunday and I said, ‘yes, please!’ Church was amazing but something didn’t feel right. I felt like I didn’t belong but I fought the feeling, and they had invited me to go back the following Sunday.

The morning of the 5^th of June 2022 I was so nervous and I had this overwhelming desire to run. I have no idea why because it was Church: what was there to be scared of, right? That day I would walk into church as melissa for the very last time. Sitting there in the front of the church I was so scared. Everything inside me started shaking. I remember the prophet saying, ‘If there is anyone here who needs to come up for prayers, now is the time.’ I couldn’t move but my aunty Elizabeth told me to stand up. I didn’t want to but I went. Standing in that line, waiting for Pastor Griffith to come to pray for me I then got an overwhelming desire to run but my feet didn’t want to cooperate with me. I saw him getting closer and closer; my heart leaped into my chest. I still can’t explain why I was feeling so scared. It’s the Lord, after all? When he came up to me he looked at me and started praying that’s the last thing I remember. I then woke up on the floor. 

When I opened my eyes, I knew that I was in a church, and that I had been delivered because I had a feeling I have never felt in my life before. Let me try and explain it the best way I can then I will tell you who I saw. Laying there for a few minutes, I felt like I was in the best place ever. I felt like I was surrounded by peace – not just any peace, but peace straight from heaven. I opened my eyes and saw the prophet and all of the pastors. But standing just behind the prophet I saw Jesus Himself. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, Jesus was there and I SAW Him. (this brings tears to my eyes just recalling that day).  There was a feeling of sheer relief in my body. It felt like something left – I felt it leaving – and I never looked back ever since.

I see things still but not like before. I get visions of Heaven I have proper conversations with Jesus Himself. He sits with me and mom every night at the kitchen table while I read the Bible and pray. We have conversations. He’s shared a lot of things with me. I’ve even met His angels and Saint Peter who stands at Heavens gates.

I will never look back. My life is for Jesus. I have never ever loved someone so much as much as I love Him. He’s taught me things, He’s told me things, He’s showed me things.

I was born Melissa de Lange in 1986 but that’s not me anymore. People ask me today who are you, my reply?

I am Melissa de Lange the daughter of The Living God. I have a best friend, a father, a teacher. His Name is Jesus Christ and He is real. He is here and He wants to save us.

I hope that one day I can inspire people to begin a journey with Jesus Christ. Honestly it’s the best thing I have ever done. A lot has changed. Ive lost friends and family but one thing remains and that’s my Lord Jesus Christ. I will never walk alone.

I’ve come a long way and still have a long way to go. But I would love to gather as many people as I can for Jesus cause without Him we are nothing.

I hope this inspires people.

God Bless you and keep you.

Guest Author

From time to time, Cup of Faith receives guest posts from people who would prefer to contribute to the blog once-off. These authors may choose to stay anonymous or may have their name featured in the post itself.

The post My Story: Encountering Jesus Christ appeared first on Cup of Faith.

To the little girl who grew up too fast…

The little girl who had to fend for herself…

The little girl who only ever wanted to fit in…

The little girl who needed someone…

 Dear younger self,

Life is going to happen and it’s going to be hard. You will face things–a lot of things good and bad but don’t get disheartened by the bad… Promise me you won’t, okay?

It might seem hard to picture now but those things are going to teach you, mould you and guide you to becoming the woman you are supposed to be… Right now it might seem like absolutely none of what I’m saying makes sense but one day you will understand and when that day comes, just know that it was not your strength that pulled you through, the world will tell you that it was and for a little while you’ll believe them.

Seek Jesus!

Promise me you will seek Jesus in the midst of it all – especially the bad things but remember when the bad passes and the good things come, never discard Him. Find the almighty Father and accept Him because He is the one who brought you into this world, who fashioned and knit you together in your mother’s womb ( Psalm 139:13-14) before you were HE WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE ( John 8:58 & Exodus 3:14).

He is the one who loves you unconditionally, the Father and the man who can give you everything and teach you valuable lessons worth more than what this horrible world can and will ever give you.

Life Lessons

You have learned a lot along the way I’ll give you that but something you learned that is worth far more than any money, gold, jewels or diamonds is that you finally understand that Jesus died a horrid, shameful death at the hands of sinners (He knows exactly what it’s like to go through pain and heartache the same way you did!) for your sins (all of them) so that when you leave this earth one day you get to live with Him forever in a place He prepared just for you. You don’t know it now but you are storing all your riches in heaven, these earthly things don’t mean much! ( John 14:1-3 and Colossians 3:1-3) I know that everything you have been through made your heart break deep down, it caused you to build up walls so high that no pro athlete could hurdle over them, things that made you plunge into a depression and left you lonely, people hurt you but you hurt them too, forgive them just as God forgave you. But what you must never forget was that you, my dear, were never alone, God was always with you looking after you and keeping you safe ( John 14:15-18) you just chose to ignore him.

Don’t Forget

God never hurt you: that was humanity, so don’t be mad at Him. Sinful people who didn’t care about you, hurt you and believe me when I say it hurt Jesus too, He saw it all! Remember that revenge is for God not you. God never wanted to punish you for something you did or didn’t do. It was because sin entered the world and tainted all that is perfect, man’s evil heart causes all the pain and anguish people suffer. Yes, God indeed allows things to happen but there’s a purpose to it all and sometimes we don’t understand and that’s okay but be sure of this, what you went through led you to Him (trust me it was for your good and to show His glory and power) you gave our whole heart to Him – It was the best decision ever made!

A Reminder

Always be happy and grateful and enjoy the little things in life with a great appreciation to the Father who created it all, you aren’t stuck in darkness anymore! Rejoice always and pray without ceasing for this is what the Lord expects of you (see 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

One day you will hear this song “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet” among many others that have become your favorite. Still, as I thought while typing this I wanted to remind you that the Lord is always with you and that your plans should always align with His. It will not always be easy to follow God’s way; sometimes you will slip up but remember when you seek forgiveness the Lord will grant it to you! Always walk in His light no matter how hard the world becomes, no matter how hated you are for His name’s sake ( Matthew 10:22). All of it was worth it! One day you’ll say – out loud for all to hear, “Knowing what I know now, everything life threw at me; I’ll do it again because I have Jesus!”

I’m proud of who you will become, and you will too. It will be okay!

With love,

our older self

Prayer

My prayer for you my wonderfully and fearfully made sister is the following:

Dear Lord, as I type this message to my fellow sisters reflecting on the path you have chosen for me I tend to sometimes forget to thank you even for the trials and difficulties, that everything you put me through was to mold me into Christ-likeness, Lord, someone reading my blog post might be facing a trial struggling to trust you please will you help remind them of Your goodness, love, patience and kindness and that whatever they may go through You give them the strength to carry on. You are a lamp that lights our path, we were once lost but You guide us home!

Dear Lord, if someone here on this platform has not accepted You as Lord and Saviour please help them. Help them open their hearts and eyes to follow You, so that Your Kingdom may grow!

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Sylvia van Jaarsveld

I’m a volunteer blogger. Welcome to my blog posts! May my writings be an inspiration to you and an aid to get you into a biblical mindset: “It’s never me but God!”
Let us grow together!
~Col 2:6-8

The post A Letter from the Future You appeared first on Cup of Faith.