GOODBYE, ZAYNE.
ZAYNE = (Hebrew/Arabic) God is gracious / God's gracious gift.
December 2016 when my wife, Jezzle and I picked up our Nissan Sunny from Nissan Dammam showroom. You would think it was not a wise decision. There were lots of things going on in our life during that time.
Here's the story: If you're going to buy a car, you'd prepare your budget wisely, right? While I think me and my wife are good (not perfect) in budgeting our finances, we made a decision that might raise some eyebrows. We got married in 2015. We were still adjusting to the married life - all the challenges and expenses. My salary was below our desires. Saad Hospital, Jezzle's employer became bankrupt and had to be shut down. Tough luck.
However, we really had this desire to have our own car. Not because we wanted to boast. But because we wanted to help our church in the transportation ministry. Before this car, we were renting cars weekly to fetch members and bring them to Jesus. And our church during this period in 2016, was also experiencing a transition from Al Khobar to Dammam, and was also praying for a financial miracle.
God gave us this peace that really surpassed understanding. And we went for it. We really wanted a Nissan Sunny, because in our car rental experience, it was the most fuel-efficient, it was the most spacious and it was the most comfortable car we used.
So with our faith, and with God's peace, we went for it. We applied for a car loan. I almost got rejected by the bank, and it really stressed me out.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
We needed to trust God and not lean on our own understanding. It's crazy, outrageous; it's not logical. But God made it happen.
December 19, 2016, we walked towards the Nissan showroom to pick up our new car. We literally had no money in our wallets and in our pockets. This is not an exaggeration. We had no money for a taxi.
But after our walk, we were welcomed by our Zayne. Displayed in the backroom, very shiny and very handsome, accompanied by a congratulatory cake.
Zayne is a lovely gift from the Lord. A vehicle to be used in service for the Lord. God is gracious. God is generous. If it is God's will, it will happen in His perfect timing. But one more issue, how do we buy gas with no money? We had to open this small coin bank, so that we could fill our new baby.
And that is how we treated Zayne, like a family. He was there when God upgraded us. He was there when God blessed us. He was even there when we had our problems. He was there in our ups and downs. And Zayne was there when people needed to come to Jesus. He is our reliable, beautiful feet that brings Good News to the people who need God.
Now, 10 years and less than two hundred thousand kilometers later, we say goodbye to you, Zayne. I know you are just a material thing in the eyes of others. Some may even say you're not handsome anymore, or you're not worth it anymore. But to us, you are our baby, our friend, our companion, one of our very first blessings as a couple. I pray to God that you could also be a blessing to your new owners, and I pray that they will also take care of you, even more than we ever did. Bye, my friend.
Thank You, Lord for your gracious gift to us throughout the years. You have been so faithful in every area of our lives. Thank You, Jesus for saving us. Without Your saving grace, we won't be worthy of anything. But because of You, we are blessed. My marriage with Jezzle is a blessed marriage, because You, Jesus, are at the center of it. May You continue to bless us and be gracious to us. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
