From wailing to dancing: how SAT-7 viewer’s grief was turned to joy
A SAT-7 viewer in Iran has described how her mourning was turned to joy when late-night channel-hopping following the death of her mother.
Sussan* recently contacted SAT-7’s Farsi-language channel, SAT-7 PARS, to share her testimony. She said that the death of her mother four months before had left her “deeply hopeless and depressed”, and she cried day and night.
Sussan inherited her mother’s satellite receiver and her husband set it up at their home. She said:
“It was midnight and I was so depressed. I turned on the TV just to forget my pain and sorrow. I found a Christian TV channel [SAT-7 PARS]; I couldn’t ignore it and kept watching. It was a worship service and at the end the pastor pointed at the screen and said, ‘I am talking to you, yes you! God is with you who has lost someone and is mourning. Just give your pain and sorrow to God.’
“I was shocked and found myself repeating the prayer with the presenter. I felt full of joy and happiness. I couldn’t sleep as I was so excited, but I didn’t really understand what had happened. I didn’t want to sleep in case I lost the good feeling I had.
In the morning, I watched the channel again and the preacher was talking about sin and Christ’s suffering for our sins. That was just priceless to hear!
“I started clapping and dancing out of happiness. Everybody thought I had gone mad over the loss of my mum.
“I had no Bible at that time so I just started to write down the verses I heard on TV. After two months I was able to get a Bible. Hallelujah! Glory to God who visited me in a village in Iran. Hallelujah!”
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.” Psalm 30:11-12
Please pray:
- Praise God for the way He intervened directly in Sussan’s life and spoke to her through the TV programme she watched.
- Pray for Sussan as she continues on her Christian journey, that the Lord will give her strength and encouragement over the months and years ahead.