Muslim to Christian: How an Encounter with Jesus Saved Her Life

Feb 13

Written By Sophie

Some testimonies don’t just inspire you — they wreck you in the best way.

On this episode of Lighten Up, Hannah sits down with Rose Ramandi, a former Muslim woman from Iran whose life was radically transformed after a supernatural encounter with Jesus. What began as deep despair, depression, and suicidal thoughts turned into a life-altering revelation: God is love.

Rose’s story spans continents, belief systems, and years of searching — and it offers a breathtaking reminder that Jesus is still revealing Himself to those who seek Him, even in the darkest places.

A Life Shaped by Religion, Oppression, and Identity Struggles

Growing up as a woman in Iran, Rose lived under intense cultural and religious oppression. As the only daughter in a family of sons, she constantly felt she had to prove her worth — not only to her family, but to society and even to God.

She describes growing up believing:

God was distant
God was angry
God was disappointed
Love had to be earned

Over time, that weight became unbearable. Depression set in. Medication followed. And eventually, Rose reached a point where she believed life was no longer worth living.

The Day Everything Changed: A Supernatural Encounter with God

On what Rose planned to be the final day of her life, she did something she had never done before.

She spoke to God — not through memorized prayers, not through ritual — but from her heart, in her own words.

In that moment, everything shifted.

Rose describes feeling the atmosphere of the room change and sensing a presence she could not see but undeniably felt. What followed were overwhelming waves of love — so powerful that she believed she couldn’t physically withstand them.

She had never read the Bible.
She had never heard of Jesus.
Yet she knew one thing with absolute certainty:

God is love..

Why This Encounter Was So Different from Islam

One of the most striking parts of Rose’s testimony is the contrast she draws between her upbringing in Islam and what she experienced that day.

In Islam, God is known by many names — but love is not one of them.

Instead, Rose grew up believing God was primarily:

A judge
A rule-keeper
Easily angered
Distant from ordinary people

Yet the God who met her in her darkest moment was gentle, personal, and overflowing with love — even after she had cursed Him moments earlier.

This love didn’t bring fear.
It brought repentance.
It brought healing.
It brought freedom.

Years of Searching Without Knowing It Was Jesus

After that encounter, Rose didn’t immediately become a Christian.

In fact, she became more religious — trying desperately to reconnect with the love she had experienced. She fasted. She prayed. She followed Islamic practices more strictly than ever, believing obedience would bring closeness.

But years later, after moving from Iran to Canada, Rose realized something was still missing:

Peace
Purpose
Identity

That longing led her and her husband to do something radical — they decided to search for God together, honestly and intellectually, across multiple belief systems.

When Jesus Revealed Himself

As Rose and her husband began reading sacred texts from different religions, one thing stood out:

Jesus kept appearing.

He appeared in dreams.
He appeared through Scripture.
He appeared through revelation.

While reading the Bible — particularly the book of Romans — Rose experienced the same presence she had encountered ten years earlier. Only this time, she recognized Him.

Jesus was the God who had met her in her despair.
Jesus was the love she had encountered.
Jesus was the answer to the ache in her soul.

On February 2, 2012, Rose and her husband gave their lives to Christ.