Stories and testimonies from the past inspire our faith and encourage us to trust in God.

The stories of people like John Newton, William Wilberforce and Dietrich Bonhoeffer show us how they transformed their environment, driven by their faith. They challenge us to act with courage and hope.

However, these stories, now so distant in time, may lead us to believe that God no longer works in the same way today. But he is still at work in real and powerful ways, especially in the midst of suffering.

Today, we want to share with you a recent testimony from Spain. A story that reflects how God continues to embrace, care for and nourish his people in the midst of pain. We hope that this experience will revive your faith, strengthen your trust in Jesus, and above all give Him glory and honour.

A life-changing diagnosis

Eighteen weeks ago, our lives changed forever.

Imagine sitting in your church on just another Sunday, surrounded by families who serve with humility and love. One of those families began the week with a devastating diagnosis. What had been a blessing, waiting for our first child. suddenly turned to tears, pain, and unanswered questions.

Our little girl was diagnosed with severe congenital heart disease. It is so rare that it occurs in only one in 200,000 people. The medical recommendation was clear: terminate the pregnancy.

According to the specialists, the chances for Olivia to survive in the womb were minimal. The decision had to be made in just three days.

What now? How do you make such a complex decision with so little time and your soul still in shock? Heartbroken and without medical hope, we decided to continue and wait for God to receive Olivia into his presence if that was his will.

Days passed and, although the suffering did not cease, a sense of peace began to surround us. We couldn't explain it, but we knew that God was with us. His presence became evident in very concrete ways, although it has always been there.

God's arms become real when several families from our church community begin to embrace us. God's care becomes real when a Christian paediatric cardiac surgeon suddenly contacts us and the case is taken into the best hands. God's nurture becomes real when Olivia's life is preserved and the progressive disease stops for several weeks.

Against all odds, Olivia made it to 32 weeks of gestation, a goal that had seemed unattainable since week 20. However, the battle continued. Her birth had to be induced by caesarean section, and she would undergo surgery almost immediately.

The day came. Surrounded by an entire medical team of cardiologists, neonatologists, surgeons and residents, Olivia was born. To everyone's surprise, she wasn't as bad as expected. Clinging to her life with strength, she began a delicate process, sustained by intensive care and specialised medication.

God continued to watch over her through the nurses, assistants and doctors who kept her in a fine balance. Her little heart was still beating, and the new goal was for her to gain weight before the upcoming operation.

God provides at all times, we keep trusting

Today, Olivia is seven days old and the operation cannot wait any longer The questions continue, the pain has not gone, but neither has our certainty that God is with us.

God embraced us when we started this journey but also when we arrived in an unfamiliar city.

He has walked with us over 800 km to encourage us; he has cared for us by providing us with food, as he did for Elijah, to help us face the weeks ahead with more time and energy.

God has provided several houses and homes for us to stay and rest in between days of ICU beeps and whistles, and has comforted us through the prayers of his people, something we have experienced in a real way.

We don't know what will happen today (18 June), whether Olivia will be healed by God through the surgeons or be taken into his presence, but what we do know is that even with tears streaming down our faces, so far God has worked several miracles in her life.

God has provided us with several houses and homes to rest in between days of ICU, beeps and whistles. He has also comforted us through the prayers of his people, which we have experienced first-hand.

We don't know what will happen today, 18 June: whether God will heal Olivia through the surgeons or take her into his presence. But what we do know is that, even with tears streaming down our faces, God has worked several miracles in her life so far.

At only seven days old, Olivia has brought glory and honour to His name. We continue to pray, and we encourage you to do the same. We desire that God may continue to work in her.

When God embraces, nurtures and cares He moves His church to become His physical body in the midst of suffering.

Thank you for being with us. Thank you for praying. To God be all the glory.

This article was written by Marta and Nico, GBU (IFES evangelical student movement in Spain) worker and collaborator respectively, and Olivia's parents.