Nomakhwezi Hadebe, from Witbank Corps in the Central Division, is a second-year cadet currently doing out-training at Gwegwede Corps in the Northern KZN Division. Her journey of faith started with a decision—a choice to move beyond lukewarm faith and step into something deeper. Along the way, she faced questions, challenges, and moments when giving up felt easier. But through it all, she heard God’s gentle whisper: “Trust me.” And she did. Her story is a reminder that even when life feels uncertain, God is at work, pruning, shaping, and leading us into His perfect plan. So take a deep breath, lean in, and be encouraged—because the same God guiding her is guiding you too.
My journey with the Lord began with a decision I had to make and own—a decision where I vowed to myself that I no longer wanted to be a lukewarm Christian and developed a deep desire to find out who God really is and His purpose for my life, despite growing up in a Christian environment.
This sacred journey of seeking the truth about who God is and His purpose for my life started when I accepted the opportunity to be part of the Mission Team programme. This programme helped me explore not just who God is, but also my identity and purpose in Him. More than that, it ultimately led me to seek God’s voice—who He needed me to become and the clarity of my calling.
There were times I felt like giving up on this training journey until one day I heard a soft, distinct voice saying, “Trust me.” Confused and wondering what that actually meant, I didn’t realize that I would soon face challenges in deeply understanding this call and how the Lord would journey with me. Day by day, I realized that God’s process of nurturing, as found in John 15:2, was beginning to take place in my life:
“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
This process was difficult, often bringing thoughts of giving up and even feeling like I was losing my sense of who I thought I was. But I must honestly say—God knew exactly what He was doing in my life. He was shaping me into the person He needed me to be, ultimately leading to the confirmation of my calling.
Accepting my calling hasn’t been an easy thing to do. It has been a continuous process of pruning and growing holistically in my journey as I allow God to reveal my purpose day by day. Whenever I face challenges and uncertainty, I hold on to the promises of God in Scripture, especially the verse that confirmed my calling when it was hard to accept—Joshua 1:9. I also constantly remind myself: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And I never forget that soft and distinct voice—“Trust me.” Even when the path ahead seems impossible, I rest my assurance and trust in the Lord every step of the way.
My walk with the Lord has been one of celebrating all that He has done in my life, being content with both the highs and the lows, and being watchful, listening, and waiting for His next steps and guidance.
Finally, in my walk with the Lord, I have learned that the best way to grow in my relationship with Christ is to fully surrender to Him, be attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and always remain obedient to His call. I have come to know—both literally and figuratively—that I cannot live without Christ. He must be the center of my entire being. With the Lord in my journey, I will continue to experience true joy, peace, and fulfillment in Him.