TRUSTING GOD IN THE DARK SEASONS

What would you do when life doesn’t unfold as you expected? Would you still choose to believe that God is your good Father and that He cares deeply for you?

At times, when we walk through dark and difficult seasons, it becomes challenging to remain steadfast in faith. Yet we must continually remind ourselves of who God is according to His Word — that He remains faithful even when we are faithless, and that He is a good, good Father who knows what is best for us and when it is best for us to receive it.

This is the story of Brother Leo Dayon, an International Teams Philippines (ITP) missionary serving in Libya. His life reminds us to trust God even in the darkest moments — to hold on to the truth that He is faithful and that He has a divine purpose behind everything we experience.

Even as a young boy of five, Brother Leo had a dream that he couldn’t understand at the time. In that dream, he saw vast sand dunes and rocky terrain. Many years later, he realized that the place he had seen was a desert — the very land where God would one day send him to serve: Libya. “The dream that I had was real,” Brother Leo later said. “What God showed me wasn’t just the hardships I would face, but the purpose and destiny He prepared for me.”

In 2005, Brother Leo came to know Christ through a Christian radio program that he listened to with his father. Both he and his father accepted Jesus as their personal Savior — a moment that marked the beginning of his spiritual journey.

Years later, Brother Leo worked as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) for about eight years. In 2014, he went to Saudi Arabia, determined to provide for his family. His family was his top priority but over time, God would reveal that his priorities were misplaced. Within two years, he faced some of the most painful trials of his life. The very thing he treasured most — his family — was torn apart. By 2016, his family had been broken, and he returned home feeling devastated for he had no one to come home to. He vowed never to go abroad again, believing that his life had been ruined because of his work overseas. Darkness surrounded him. He felt hopeless and spiritually dry, no longer finding purpose or strength to serve the Lord.

But God, in His grace, never lets go of His children.

In 2017, a friend invited Brother Leo to attend an Access 1 Training in Batangas, hosted by International Teams Philippines (ITP). When ITP’s Executive Director, Gani Sison, asked him, “Why are you here?” Brother Leo replied honestly, “I don’t know why I’m here.”

That moment became a divine appointment. Through the training and the Word of God, his perspective began to change. He realized that his previous failures were not because of his work itself, but because his priorities had been wrong — he had put his family above God. Through Pastor Gani’s mentorship, he found clarity and renewed faith. Brother Leo prayed, “Thank You, Lord. I will go abroad again — but this time to serve You.” From that moment, his purpose changed.

Brother Leo returned to working abroad, not just as an OFW, but as a missionary carrying the name of Jesus wherever he went. He served in Cambodia and Thailand, facing challenges yet continuing to trust God’s plan.

When he returned to the Philippines, God called him once more, this time to a place he had never known: Libya.

Reflecting on that calling, he shared:

“In the difficulties of life, don’t be too quick to find the solution; first, seek the purpose behind it. Once we understand why God allows certain trials, the solution will naturally follow.”

In December 2019, Brother Leo was sent to Libya, not as an OFW, but as an ITP missionary and tentmaker. There was a travel ban preventing Filipinos from entering Libya, but nothing could stop God’s will. Through God’s grace and the help of International Teams Philippines, he arrived safely on December 24, 2019 — his first Christmas in Libya, a day he will never forget.

“The trials may have been in the thousands, but God’s blessings were in the millions,” Brother Leo said.

The moment he arrived, he was taken aback. The airport didn’t look like an airport at all — it resembled a basketball court. There were piles of garbage, old planes, scrap metal, and even blown-up tanks. Shocked, he asked, “Lord, why am I here? What kind of place is this?” The next day, as he toured Benghazi, he saw burned cars, shattered buildings, and broken homes — visible scars from years of civil war. The devastation made him ask again, “Lord, why did You bring me here?”

Brother Leo was hired by a construction company on a two-year contract, but his work proved to be much harder than he expected. He was made to do tasks not in his contract such as sweeping roads, collecting bullet casings, cleaning air bases. At times, he was so embarrassed that he covered his face while working. He cried out, “Lord, what kind of job is this? Why am I cleaning here?” Yet, God was working behind the scenes.

One day, he was led to Powerhouse 316 Church in Benghazi, where he met Pastor Eric. Upon meeting him, Pastor Eric wept and said, “I’ve been praying that God would send someone to help with the ministry here — and I know it’s you.” Those words rekindled Brother Leo’s motivation. He realized that his purpose in Libya was not about his job, but about serving God and sharing the Gospel. As he continued to serve, Brother Leo experienced the kindness and hospitality of the Libyan people. His curiosity about Libya’s history grew, and as he studied the Bible, he discovered a powerful connection.

In Mark 15:21, it says:

“A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.”

Simon of Cyrene was a Libyan — the man who helped Jesus carry His cross. God revealed to Brother Leo that Libya is close to His heart. He believed that one day, this nation would once again turn to Christ.

In 2021, Brother Leo’s two-year contract ended. The company’s board, however, decided that he could not be hired by any other employer and must return to the Philippines. But Brother Leo believed his mission in Libya was not yet done.

He prayed earnestly and God answered. Instead of being given a ticket home, he was handed a release paper that allowed him to apply to other companies. The very next day, on December 8, he received a call and a job offer from an oil and gas company — the very place where he still works today. His new salary was four times higher than before.

God had seen his faithfulness through difficult, menial work and now rewarded him abundantly. The new job also came with great blessings: a one-month paid vacation every three months and free round-trip plane tickets to the Philippines. He knew it was nothing short of a miracle.

Brother Leo now works at Sirte Oil Company in Marsa el-Brega, where he also serves in the Brega Christian Fellowship. He was warmly welcomed by the believers there, and together they continue to expand God’s Kingdom in Libya.

Through his journey, Brother Leo learned the greatest truth of all — that when we seek God first, everything else follows.

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33

“The dream God has given has a process I must go through,” he said. “But that’s not the ultimate reality. What’s truly real is God’s goodness and grace in my life — and that alone is the greatest blessing of all.”

Like Joseph in the Bible, Brother Leo realized that every trial was part of God’s divine process — shaping him for the dream God had shown him long ago.

God has placed Brother Leo in a nation like Libya for a divine reason. The hardships and challenges he faces are temporary and they do not define him. What defines him is the faithfulness of God and the calling that began with a dream in a child’s heart.

Indeed, the dream is real — because the God who gave it is real.

(Written by: VSJ)