From brokenness to purpose

TebesuthuMpho Nkambule reflects on how losing her father left her broken and searching for comfort, before an encoun­ter with God changed the direc­tion of her life.

“Before I gave my life to Christ, I was broken. It was after I had recently lost my father that I lost the true essence of living. I thought life was worthless. I didn’t want to die, but I wanted to take the pain away.

I tried almost everything a young person could do to di­vert the pain and find comfort. I struggled with depression and anxiety. I couldn’t sleep at night, nor did I de­sire waking up in the morning. The only thing I wanted was to find comfort, but I looked for it in the wrong places,” said Nkambule.

Nkambule got saved around 2018 after months of depres­sion. She re­calls sitting in her room at St Mark’s hostel, reading the Word, when her matron came in and told her that God had sent her to tell her to read Psalm 68:5, which reads: “He is a fa­ther to the fatherless and a defender of widows.”

“After reading that verse, I heard a voice that said, ‘Do you want me to be your father?’ I cried and said yes.

That was how my journey with Christ started,” said Nkam­bule. “My life needed a saviour. I tried everything to come out of the pain, but no one was there. My family was not able to cover the gap and I needed a Messiah.

I understood that Christ Jesus died for me on the Cross and that He died for my pain. Thus, He set me free. There is no longer a need for me to remain in the bond­age of brokenness be­cause Christ has set me free, and who the Son sets free is free indeed,” said Nkam­bule. Nkambule highlights that her life has b e e n transformed. She knows her identity in Christ and walks in purpose.

“After accepting Jesus, my character has been shaped, and I allow the Holy Spirit to mould me and lead me into walking in purpose,” she said.

What has helped her stand strong on difficult days is the Word of God. Whenever she feels weak, she looks at what the Word of God says she is. “When there is a casting down, there is a lifting up.

SITUATION

So, rather than being defined by my current situation, I speak life over my life and speak the truth, which is Jesus. I don’t view things according to what I see, but according to what God says,” she said.

Nkambule’s greatest desire in life is to live in accordance with what was predestined for her. What strengthens her walk with God is knowing that she is walk­ing in the footsteps that God has orchestrated beforehand.

In her words of encourage­ment, Nkambule says: “The only true purpose one can find is in Christ. The world will define you according to its own phi­losophy, but Christ defines you according to Himself.

If you are at a point where you feel broken beyond repair, know that Jesus Christ is here to pick you up. Jesus Christ is never tired of helping you.

He is still calling you back home.”

Matthew 28:20: “And be sure of this, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This verse reminds her that in every situation, she is not alone. Jesus is always with her, stand­ing by her side and helping her through all things.

Nkambule reminds us that in every situation, you are not alone. Jesus is always with you, standing by your side and helping you through all things.