In Eswatini, a predominantly Christian nation, the seed of faith is often planted in people at an early age. For this week’s feature, 33-year-old Nokwanda Clementia Khumalo, this was certainly the case.
Born into a Christian, church-going family, it was ingrained in her to believe in the Almighty. As a young child, she didn’t fully grasp the meaning of it all; it was simply a fact of life that ‘God is and always will be’, and that as the Creator of the Heavens and the earth, He is deserving of worship and glory.
However, it wasn’t until her high school years that she truly encountered Him. As a member of a Zionist church, it was a tradition to fast and pray before the start of the school year. “It was quite challenging being young and always hungry, but we all held fast in my family and persevered,” she recalled. One year, her family’s plans to join an all-night prayer on a mountain on the outskirts of Mbabane had to be cancelled. Instead, they were to meet the congregation at church the next day. However, as the evening drew on, Khumalo’s father, who held a high position in the church, insisted they couldn’t go to sleep without praying. They went to a small mountain near their home, where he read Psalm 91.
“I could feel Him—it was a warm and the happiest feeling of knowing I was not alone and nor will I ever be,” Khumalo said, recounting the powerful presence she felt as her father read the scripture. “He said all He wanted was for His people to know that they are loved and to do good unto others. Who wouldn’t want that? I accepted Him and He became my refuge and fortress as promised.”
That life-changing moment set Khumalo on a path of seeking a deeper connection with God. “I was happy, I talked to Him, prayed to Him and was always overjoyed when I fellowshipped with others,” she stated. After finishing university, getting a job proved difficult, but the feeling that God was at work never left her, even when life’s overwhelming challenges brought her to tears. She found strength by reflecting on the fact that she had never gone hungry, a clear sign of His provision. “In times of trial, I go back and look at all the things He got me through and know that He is working on it.”
Like any journey of faith, Khumalo’s has had its challenges. “I wavered when my contract ended in 2021,” she shared. “I knew I loved God, not for what He can do for me, but because He is my strength. Although, over time, the stress of life took a toll on me and I couldn’t understand why He did not change my situation.” Her situation didn’t change, but God spoke to her. “He told me to rise up and go to the mountain, where I met people who believed in Him as I do.” She also joined her brother’s Bible study group. “We share our experiences and encourage each other to keep strong and wait in His promise,” she explained.
It was through these connections that her faith was reaffirmed. “I discovered Him anew.
“He knew me and knows me even today.” Khumalo added: “As Christ knew hardship, so will we if we are in Him, but His promises stand firm because He is not a God who goes back on His Word.” For those on their own journey of faith, Khumalo offers this advice: “Always remember that once you declare that you want to work for the Lord, the devil stands up, but when you defeat him, you get a testimony that God is. There is no greater feeling, no joy that you will ever get than when you are in the right standing with God, so love God with all your heart and mind (Matthew 22:37). Amen.”
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