My mom had gone to the American Embassy multiple times before and had been denied a visa, but this time was different.
The situation carried an intensity that went far beyond a simple visa acceptance. This wasn’t about touring the country. It wasn’t about visiting family in California. It wasn’t even to watch her son and daughter graduate from La Sierra University.
I was getting married, and getting a U.S. visa was the only way my mom and dad could share that special moment with me.
Being denied the visa meant a mother missing the joy of seeing her only daughter walk down the aisle, and a father losing the chance to hold his daughter’s hand as he gave her away. The thought alone weighed heavily on their hearts, turning the appointment into a moment of immense pressure—everything rested on the visa being approved.
So my mom took the task seriously, offering it up as a prayer to God. For seven days leading up to her American Embassy appointment, she fasted, drinking only freshly squeezed orange juice at the end of each day. My parents knew deep down that for them to get a visa, only God could intervene.
Even though they had all the required documents and could prove their stable financial status, they still didn’t meet one of the embassy’s guidelines. After going through every piece of paperwork and answering countless questions, each visit with a U.S. Embassy counselor ended the same way—with a question that always led to disappointment: “Do you have any other children in Egypt?” When my parents answered “No,” the counselor would immediately say, “Sorry, your visa is denied,” simply because they had no ties that could guarantee they would return to Egypt.
Well, in the case of my wedding, the situation hadn’t changed. Their only two children, my brother and I, were not in Egypt, and they still had no ties that could guarantee their return. That is why the situation depended on God. Without a change in the U.S. Embassy’s guidelines, their visa approval seemed impossible. The day finally came for my parents’ appointment at the embassy. As usual, the counselor spent a long time going through all their documents and asking countless questions. Towards the end of the appointment, she asked the familiar, dreaded question: “Do you have any other children in Egypt?”
My mom knew what was coming. She put her hand on her head, leaned against the wall, and began to cry as she answered, “No.”
But this time, the counselor didn’t immediately deny the visa. She continued examining the documents and glancing at my mom, seemingly deep in thought. Then she asked a rather unusual question: “Do you have any siblings in Egypt?”
Hearing this, my mom felt a glimmer of hope and answered, “Yes.”
After a pause, the counselor finally said, “Your visa is approved—for only three months and only one trip.”
This was unheard of. Egyptians are usually either denied a visa or approved for a five-year, multiple-entry visa. It was as if the counselor had every reason to deny my parents the visa, yet for some unknown reason, she made an exception—allowing them just one special trip so they could be there for my wedding.
My then-fiancé and I were also fasting—not for seven days like my mom, but just for twenty-four hours. After completing our fast, we received a phone call from my parents. At first, we feared it was to deliver bad news, thinking the call would confirm a visa denial because of my mom’s crying. But instead, they were tears of joy. On the other end of the line, we heard the wonderful news: their visa had been approved.
I could hardly believe my ears. Deep within my core, I knew that their visa approval was a divine work. God not only gave my parents the gift of attending my wedding, but God also knew how difficult it would have been for me to get married without them by my side—especially after becoming engaged while they were far away. God made it possible for them to share this special moment with me.
As my fiancé and I spoke to my parents on the phone, tears of joy streamed down my face, and the very first verse that came to my mind was:
“O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8).
I was so moved that I immediately shared this verse on my Facebook page, celebrating God’s goodness and faithfulness.
I am so grateful for this moment, which reminded me of God’s work and goodness in my life. But over the last few years, I’ve learned an even more important lesson. It’s easy to recognize God’s goodness when things go the way we hope and pray for. But what about when life seems to take a completely different direction? Does God’s goodness stop in those moments?
Perhaps the most pressing lesson I’ve learned over the last few years is to believe in God’s goodness in the midst of chaos. God’s goodness does not depend on my circumstances, my successes, or my plans. God’s goodness is rooted in God’s character alone.
God is good in every season. God is good in the storm and in the sunshine. God is good on the mountaintops and in the valleys. God is good when everything in my life seems to be going perfectly, and God is just as good when things don’t turn out the way I hoped or expected. God’s goodness is constant, unchanging, and faithful—even when I cannot see the full picture.
My prayer for this season is for a heart and eyes that can recognize God’s goodness in the valleys just as clearly as on the mountaintops. May I fully experience and trust God’s goodness—not only when my prayers are answered, but also when life takes unexpected turns. May I confidently declare, “O taste and see that the Lord is good,” not only in the high points of life but in the low points as well.
Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
Ingredients:
3-4 oranges to make 8 ounces
Instructions:
Step 1: Purchase or pick your oranges
Step 2: Squeeze by hand or with a citrus juicer
Step 3: Enjoy a refreshing natural treat right away or in the next three days
Germeen Fargo is the wife of Bassam and the mother of five incredible girls. She is so grateful now to have her parents living close by.