Ishita Solanki – My Salvation Testimony

Ishita Solanki Testimony

It’s a joy, when one is born in a family who’s forefathers through six generation, heard, accepted the Gospel of God (from missionaries serving in Gujarat), and further testified to many about Christ as their personal saviour. Yet, it so happens, when generational success stories are recorded and they recount the many worldly and spiritual blessings a generation receives and after it another and yet another….. . This joy silently when passed on unchecked, also brings with it an overpowering spirit of self accomplishment, fuelling deep satisfaction, to make one complacent about the need to finds one’s own identity and purpose.
A trap was laid. Unaware, I took solace in being naive.
That was me.
Growing up experiences, further made me swell a little more, in the goodness of being surrounded by a secure environment, comfort of home, loving family.
It was natural, to make such privilege, a position worthy to be adorned. Why not? I was the cherished, most celebrated only girl child for long in the family.
Simultaneously, I was also exposed to the teachings of Christ which had settled in some corner of my mind.
I eventually cemented my identity as a “born Christian”. With a convent education and discipline, one who learnt about the holy sacraments, who knew her prayers – (The Lord’s Prayer -Our Father or The Apostle’s Creed), knew her hymns, sang carols, enacted the nativity and crucifixion of Christ, told the Bible parables with as much enthusiasm as moral stories from secular books, resources.
Outside home I moved around with a ‘tom boy’ attitude. Being popular, and high visibility gave me a sense of approval to go on in this direction, for that was a personality trait, which many others still desired to possess.
As days rolled, this self-gratification, made way for pride to settle in, seeping in deep parts of my conscious. The darkness only deepens. How could I see when I only got approval of being in the right direction!
All through this, Jesus was still my hero – my Father, my Friend, my Sheild….. everything I was taught He is to be, except – untill after 1990s, when my pride had begun to bring disgrace, Jesus came face to face, with me as ‘My Saviour’.
He came down from Heaven to walk besides me and while I watched He gently took off all the passions that had gripped me. Then lone and beaten He walked on the road to Calvery giving His life as a ransom for me. I received the power to walk in freedom from darkness to light, disgrace to grace. He was not done still. Jesus did not disappear like a mortal. He came back as ‘The Risen Lord’, sat with me, comforted me, got my attention, then when I was ready to surrender, granted me a desire to obey Him. What a renewed joy, finally! Jesus, my best friend for all times had just arrived in my heart.
That was the beginning of the knowledge of “God of Agape Love”.
This happened not immediately but gradually when, to fulfill my professional dreams, I chose to live away from home and the comfort of my family near me. Over the years, the Lord helped me look in the mirror, breaking my obsession with my fake identity (much of it was living through the lives of celebrated individuals) and replaced it with a new identity in Him. Jesus clothed me with strength and dignity and a promise of a future that He will accomplish for me.
My darkness was hiding a deep fear. The uncertainity to acquire enough potential to raise the bar of accomplishments of the past generations. Jesus sealed my future and changed my outlook to desire for ‘Rest in the Waiting’.
One fine day, I received the courage to take a nearly year-long sabbatical, when the Lord opened opportunities to teach and reveal to me the depths and simplicity of His Purpose and Sovereignty over everything (Job 28, The Holy Bible).
All my fear taken away. My purpose now is to build my identity in Him, being alive in Him and rest in Him.
That is when I met the “Lord of Sabbath”.
A calm has set since I adorn and live my real identity. The spirit of God has pursued me to move on, to grow stronger in my faith. The seasons, the storms, are meant to be, yet they exist to only establish my footstep to be nearer to Jesus. My journey in knowing the Lord comes alongside the testimonies, patience, encouragement, correction, received from my father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, my husband, in-laws, children, several relations and so many pastors, teachers, elders, youth in the church family, across borders.
My ministry is my life in Him untill I am ready to be transformed to see Him in glory.
It’s a full circle. Ask me my identity now?
Well, I will say with the God granted boldness and meekness, I derive my satisfaction and peace in the study of Word of God to know more about the God of the Word.
‘Born Again’, as a Child of God, each day is a new pursuit to be transformed more in the likeness of Jesus, as His disciple, as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, colleague or the good Samaritan. In this hope, I rejoice.
Come, I invite you to meet the “Lord of Shalom”.

Ishita Salvation Testimony