Overcoming Fear

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
John 16:22.

In 2021, Tafari's father got sick. Really sick. With each passing day his father became worse, unable to get out of bed, hardly able to eat or drink, and certainly unable to go to work and provide for the family. In the absence of his father's income, Tafari and his two brothers made the difficult choice to drop out of school and work to provide for their family. Each day when Tafari would leave home to go work for the day, he'd say goodbye to his father, never knowing which goodbye would be their last. 

Tafari was gripped by the fear of losing his dad, the pressure of being the breadwinner of the family, and the disappointment of missing out on his education. Eventually, Tafari's father began to recover and Tafari learned to cope with his position in his family, feeling less helpless in the wake of his dad's improved condition. But in July of 2023, Tafari's two week old nephew passed away, and all the fear and uncertainty and helplessness he felt when his dad was ill came rushing back. Tafari began isolating himself from his grieving family, feeling suffocated by his own distress. He didn't stop crying for weeks. 

But praise be to God that RiverCross Champions in Tafari's community were able to connect with him, allowing a safe space for him to process both his recent and past trauma. Tafari is learning to trust God in all things, even the hard things, and now knows there is hope even in the midst of suffering. 

*Although the stories we share are true, identifying details have been changed.