By Namrata Tamang of Kathmandu, Nepal
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
There was a time when I did not fully know who I was. I was quiet, reserved, and often overshadowed by louder voices around me. In a world that constantly demands certainty and confidence, I felt small and uncertain. I carried dreams in my heart, but I also carried fear.
Like many young people in Nepal, I once imagined my future far away from home. I planned to study abroad and pursue Biblical Theology, believing that success meant leaving, achieving, and returning accomplished. I thought I had mapped out my path carefully.
Then life paused.
During the stillness of the COVID-19 pandemic, everything slowed down—including me. In that
unexpected quiet, I was forced to sit with my thoughts, my faith, and my questions. Who am I? What am I truly called to do? What does purpose look like for me?
In that sacred stillness, I found my answer—not in a place, not in a title, but in Christ. Instead of leading me abroad, God called me to serve right where I was—in Nepal, within Community of Christ. The dream I once held shifted, but it did not disappear. It transformed.
Stepping into my role was both an honor and a challenge. As the first woman employee in Nepal within my organization, I realized that my journey was no longer just about personal growth—it was about representation. It was about voice. It was about presence.
There were moments of doubt. Moments when I felt outnumbered. Moments when I wondered if I was strong enough to carry the responsibility placed before me. Yet each challenge shaped me. Each obstacle refined me. Each prayer strengthened me. I began to understand that becoming is a process. It is not loud or instant. It happens quietly—through perseverance, faith, and the courage to stand even when your knees tremble.
Today, I continue to grow into the woman God is shaping me to be. I continue to learn, to lead, and to listen. I continue to speak—not only for myself, but for the women whose voices deserve to be heard.
My journey is still unfolding. There will be victories and there will be struggles. But I am no longer afraid of the process. Because this is not just a story about challenges. It is a story about becoming. And I am still becoming.
Prayer Phrase
“Let us work for the good of all” (Galatians 6:10).
Spiritual Hunger
Jesus discerned hungers of body and spirit, and he fed them through a physical, verbal, spiritual ministry of presence. In a time of listening prayer, ask God to help you discern physical or spiritual hungers of people in your congregation, community, and global family. Invite the Spirit to move you to one hospitable act that “feeds” someone’s hunger today.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.