Hiding in the Light by Rifqa Bary

“After four years of hiding my faith from my family, I knew that it was time. I wrote with shaky hands, ‘Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I refuse to deny him….’ There was no turning back now. I had to get out of that house if I wanted to live. Was this worth risking everything for? Yes.”

Rifqa Bary grew up in a devout Muslim home, obediently following her parents’ orders to practice the rituals of Islam. But God was calling her to freedom and love. He was calling her to true faith. He was calling her to give up everything.

Leaving Islam for Christianity cost her more than she imagined

but gave more than she could have dreamed.

 

Hiding in the Light is the story of Rifqa’s remarkable spiritual journey from Islam to Christianity. It is also the untold story of how she ran from her father’s threats to find refuge with strangers in Florida, only to face a controversial court case that reached national headlines. Most of all, it is the story of a young girl who made life-changing sacrifices to follow Jesus—and who inspires us to do the same.

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About the Author:

Fatima Rifqa Bary, a native of Sri Lanka, moved with her family to the United States at the age of eight. She secretly converted from Islam to Christianity at age twelve. When her family discovered her secret four years later, she ran away from home—and her story made national headlines. Still living in an undisclosed location, Rifqa’s passions are prayer, missions, and people. She also cherishes long talks with loved ones over coffee and eating lots of chicken curry.

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. 

My Thoughts:

"Something inside me was crying out for the truth, demanding, 

Why am I here? 

Why do I breathe? 

Why does my heartbeat?"

Rifqa Bary

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 

Jeremiah 29:13

Rifqa is searching, for truth, and God says, when a person searches, they will find Him, if they search with all their heart.

This young lady's tale will capture your heart. Maybe you remember her story, I certainly don't but neither do I watch much news. I can imagine how many different stories are out there. She even refers to all the speculation and lies that were media coverage. In this heartfelt book, you will read her story. The story of her life in Sri Lanka and then in the US. The story of her conversion to Christ, and her secret service to Him until that was no longer possible. Then the flight for her life, her very safety, as well as how that did not turn out the way she expected. But what stood out to me above all was her faith. She is honest and open about her struggles with becoming the person God wanted her to be, peer pressure, the desire to fit in as a teenager, the anger and bitterness in her heart at her father's abuse and her mother's silence in light of it. Yet, God sustains her, from Him comes her strength, her ability to survive and not just to survive but to thrive.

Persecution in America? You wouldn't think so... Rifqa's faith is amazing, and encouraging. Her love for God is contagious.  You will not want to put this book down, I didn't. I found myself reading it every minute I had to spare - just to see what happens. I felt part of the story, I suffered with her, feared for her, became angry with her when she was used for political advancement, as well as let down by the justice system. This is the inside story and you don't want to miss it!!  I cannot recommend this book enough.