Life in the UAE was not what I had imagined. I arrived in this country filled with hope and expectations, only to be confronted by the harsh realities of this world.
It is not all glitz and glamour.
I was humbled.
I never imagined I would experience such terrible living conditions. I left a country that offered me a “good and easy life,” thinking that life in Dubai would be better.
The things I had hoped for and expected were not realised.
My tears fell as I prepared to sleep, having traded my king-size bed for a tiny bunk bed.
Like most large urban cities, rent is quite expensive. As a newcomer with a modest salary, I found it difficult to afford even a rental space, let alone the prospect of purchasing a property.
I was renting a “bed space”. I cannot express much of the struggle in such a living condition but I had quite a few uncomfortable experiences which made me realise that the world we live in corrupted.
On the brighter side, as a bed spacer, I get to know many people and learn their walks of life that sometimes you can still say to yourself that you are still blessed.
Because of this, I really look forward to long weekends or long school breaks when my relatives invite me to their place. They rent their own flat, which means fewer people in the flat—just their family of four!
You know, I consider this a true luxury, especially when living in a room shared with 18 other people. I’m not joking. During my stay at a villa with multiple rooms, our accommodation happened to be the master bedroom, which featured six bunk beds. You might think it could comfortably accommodate 12 people at full capacity, right? Surprisingly, it housed even more because couples occupied the lower bunks. Just picture a standard-sized bunk bed where the lower level is shared by two individuals. I simply can’t wrap my head around it! But that’s how it was. Just imagine what you can envision.
Anyway, so that’s why I love it when it is holiday that I get to take a break from my “bedspacer” life. One day, during my stay with my relatives, I was contemplating.
I found myself wondering how long I would continue living like this; how I wish I could have my own place as well.
I have a habit of talking to God whenever I feel lonely and self-pity begins to sink in, allowing me to vent my frustrations. So, I prayed and shared with Him my difficulties and the challenges I am facing. Finally, I asked Him, “Lord, could you please give me a house?”
After praying, I opened my Bible and came across the verse in John where Jesus said,
“In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
You know, I was so amazed to realise that God speaks through me through His word, the Bible; in that very moment, He led me to His word, which promises me good things. He indeed has spoken to me through His word, and I had goosebumps. I was in awe.
I was astonished because that verse gave me something to look forward to; God is granting me more than I could have ever asked for. I requested a house, but He is blessing me with a mansion—one where I won’t have to pay rent, deal with bed bugs, experience electrical disruptions, or face eviction from the Baladiya due to illegal housing rentals.
Of course, I still long for a home on this earth during my lifetime, but God has envisioned a future for me that far surpasses anything I can imagine.
Can you imagine a mansion created by God Himself? It would undoubtedly be more than wonderful!