My Relationship with Jesus – by Deepak Idnani

I was born in Pune, India in 1965 and my parents and I immigrated to England in September 1966. Even as a small child, I realised that simple things like the wind blowing through the trees, and the movement of clouds across the sky was controlled by God.  Neighbours took me and my younger brother to Sunday School when I was five.

When I first heard the name of Jesus, something stirred deep within me and I felt drawn to him.  At this time I was learning about Jesus and the Bible at Sunday School, as well as the Hindu gods at home.  The two faiths had many morals and principles in common but also some significant differences, which confused me.  But my heart grew in love for Jesus and I spent much time praying to Him and reading my Bible.  Eventually, in autumn 1975, when I was almost ten years old, I realised that I had to renounce the worship of Hindu gods and commit my life to the one Eternal Living God and His Son who had died to pay the penalty for my sins.  So, one Sunday night, I knelt by my bed and asked the Lord Jesus to forgive my sins and come into my life.  At that moment, I knew that I was accepted by God and I realised that I would be with Him forever.

In 1980, when I was 14, my parents felt that I was becoming too interested in Christianity and asked me to stop going to church.  I respected their decision and stopped going to church. 

However, I kept a Bible and read through it at night.  I kept praying that I would have the courage to be open with my parents about my faith.  Finally, in February 1985, during my first year at university, I was filled with the Holy Spirit and wrote to my parents telling them that I wanted to follow Jesus unhindered. They were shocked and concerned but after we discussed the matter they agreed to let me get baptised.

Over the years, I have found the Lord Jesus enabling me to overcome anger, jealousy, fear, pride and other negative feelings.  He has given me a deep love for God and all people and has brought an inner strength to my life.  This strength was most notably demonstrated in 1998, when I was diagnosed as having a rare autoimmune skin disease called Pemphigus Vulgaris.

Over the next few years God healed me, and since then I have had no further recurrence of it.  In February 2005, I lost my father and experienced the Lord’s tenderness and comfort during the difficult time of grieving. I am thankful to the Lord Jesus for giving me eternal life and for being my closest friend who is always with me through good times and bad.  I can talk to Him about anything and trust Him to guide me and provide for all my needs.

My Journey to Jesus

I was born in Pune, India in 1965, and moved to England with my parents the following year. Even as a child, I sensed God’s presence—in the wind, the trees, the sky. At age five, neighbours took my brother and me to Sunday School, where I first heard the name of Jesus. Something stirred in me, and I felt drawn to Him.

At home, I learned about Hindu gods; at church, I discovered Jesus and the Bible. Though both faiths shared moral values, their differences left me confused. Yet my heart leaned toward Jesus. I often prayed and read the Bible with growing love. In 1975, nearly ten years old, I chose to leave the worship of Hindu gods to follow Jesus, the Eternal Living God alone. One Sunday night, I knelt by my bed and asked Jesus to forgive my sins and come into my life. I knew from then I was accepted—and that I belonged to Him forever.

In my teens, my parents asked me to stop attending church. I respected their wishes but continued reading the Bible and praying on my own. In 1985, during my first year at university, I was filled with the Holy Spirit and wrote to my parents, expressing my desire to follow Jesus openly. As they were surprised and concerned for me we discussed it, and they allowed me to be baptised.

Since then, Jesus has helped me overcome anger, fear, pride, and more. He’s given me a deep love for God and others, and a quiet strength—especially in 1998, when I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease. God healed me, and it never returned.

In 2005, when my father passed away, I experienced the Lord’s tender comfort. Today, I’m grateful for the eternal life Jesus gives and for His faithful friendship. He walks with me through every season. I can talk to Him about anything—and trust Him to guide, provide, and never let go.