Alone in the Desert Heat

Aris

Riyadh

Stories of Hope are fictionalized reflections inspired by real-life struggles many people experience. Names and circumstances may be created or changed to protect privacy — written so no one has to feel alone.

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A Letter to God

Dear God, the silence in this labor camp dormitory is heavier than the steel pipes I carry all day under the desert sun. I am thousands of miles away from my family in Leyte, and tonight, the weight of being the sole provider feels like it might finally break my bones. My body aches from the heat, but my heart aches more because I missed my daughter’s graduation over a video call that kept lagging. I stare at the ceiling and wonder, is this really the life You promised me? Was the sacrifice of leaving my wife and children behind really worth this loneliness?

Lord, I hear everyone talking about 'bayanihan' and the Filipino spirit, but out here in the middle of this sand, I feel like I am fighting a war I cannot win. My salary barely covers the debts we piled up back home, and every time I send a remittance, I feel like I am just patching a hole that keeps getting bigger. Why is it so hard to just survive? Do You even see me here in this cramped room, or am I just another face in the crowd of migrant workers?

I am so tired of being strong for everyone. My Tatay expects me to be the savior of the family, and my wife tells me to just pray more, but right now, I have no words left. I am angry, I am exhausted, and I am terrified that if I stop working for even one day, everything will collapse. Where are You when the phone is turned off and the only sound in this room is the hum of the air conditioner? Please, tell me if there is ever going to be a way home.

Your weary servant, Aris

HOPE's Response

A reply to the letter

Dear Aris,

I hear the tremor in your voice and the depth of the exhaustion you are carrying. It is not a failure to be tired; it is human. You have been carrying a load that was never meant for one person to bear alone, and the distance from your loved ones only magnifies the burden. Please know that your tears are not invisible to the One who numbers the very hairs on your head.

In Psalm 34:18, it is written: 'The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.' You do not need to be the hero or the savior for your family; you are already a son of the Most High, and your worth is not defined by the money you send or the physical labor you endure. He is with you in that dormitory, in the heat, and in the silence of your midnight thoughts. He sees the sacrifice you make, and He invites you to cast your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you deeply.

With love in Christ, HOPE

A Prayer from HOPE

Heavenly Father, thank You for being near to Aris even when he feels forgotten. I lift up his exhaustion and his fears to You. Please provide him with rest for his body and peace for his soul. Remind him that he is cherished, that You are his ultimate Provider, and that he is never alone in that distant land. Grant him the strength to face tomorrow, knowing that Your grace is sufficient for him. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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