Hope From The Man in White

My husband and I lived and served for many years in the Muslim world and would never dare cast a shadow of fear or resentment over the beautiful friendships we have had with Muslims. We live to help Muslims know the truth about Jesus, wherever they are, because Islam, their religion, keeps them from it.

These past few months of deputation travels in the United States have given us a sobering up-close look into what things look like in American communities where Islam is very visibly present.

In a single week, I listened as devout Christian women related the dynamics of fresh grief. Two in two different states shared similar devastating stories about a sister and a daughter, both of Christian background, who had recently become Muslims and had either married or were marrying into devout Muslim families. Another mother showed me the extravagantly beautiful engagement pictures of her son, who would soon convert to Islam before marrying his Muslim bride.

I felt enshrouded in their sorrow and hopelessness. We have personally witnessed the devastation experienced by mixed-marriage couples who perhaps married without being fully aware of Islam’s tenets for marriage and divorce.

But then, an unexpected twist. After filling me in about her daughter’s situation, the mother of one of the girls elaborated that the future Muslim son-in-law came to them about a dream that was troubling him. He told them that a man in white kept appearing to him, beckoning him to follow. He admired the faith of his in-laws-to-be and wanted to know more about Jesus, who seemed to be pursuing him. He is now reading the Scriptures!

We hear stories told quite frequently of Muslims having this particular “man in white” kind of dream, and I’ve prayed countless times for Jesus to reveal himself to Muslims in dreams. But this one time, I got to be part of it myself, right here in America! I got to be the one to celebrate with my new friend–amid Islam’s dark chaos–the hope that Jesus has put in front of us all!

So now, as sobering and challenging as the stories are, I will remember D*s face when she told me about her future Muslim son-in-law’s dream. I get to believe it for all the other mothers, sisters, and daughters who also wrestle through such difficult situations.

Isn’t it just like Jesus to so peculiarly shout His great love to all of us at once? Because of it, we can always have hope.

And that’s what keeps us going, no matter what.