Last Updated on April 13, 2023 by OCF Communications
My guest today is Michelle Qureshi. Michelle is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy, and she served 9 years in the military, leaving the Coast Guard as a Lieutenant. If that last name sounds familiar, then it’s probably because you’re familiar with speaker and author Nabeel Qureshi. He’s Michelle’s late husband who wrote two NY Times bestsellers, “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” and “No God But One,” and who died in 2017 after being diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer in 2016.
Michelle’s story of military life at the intersection of faith, family, and profession is one that deals with such topics as stress, hardship, and discouragement, but more importantly, it’s a story of how she has experienced what she calls “incredible hope amidst suffering.”
What we talked about
Where does your story begin? Why she joined the Coast Guard, how she met Nabeel.
“Trials have a way of giving you opportunities to grow.”
Regarding that first assignment aboard the law enforcement cutter in 2008. What was that assignment like?
What was life like aboard the cutter?
You mentioned during a conversation offline that expressing emotions, or showing need, and even demonstrating morality were considered signs of weakness and ignorance. Talk more about that.
“There was a twisted delight in seeing innocence corrupted.”
How did you see those around you coping with the stressful environment? What about you?
“God, I will serve you anywhere—anywhere but here.”
The difficult assignment that we’re talking about happened during the first 2 years of your marriage. What sort of support or advice were you getting from home, or was this even a topic you discussed with Nabeel?
Shifting the focus now to the challenges you faced at home—and of course I’m mostly talking about Nabeel’s cancer diagnosis—talk more about that time in your life.
“We were just a rag-tag group of people that loved God.”
What did dealing with stress look like in the situation with Nabeel? Michelle shares her three P’s.
“God is present. God gives us power. And there is purpose in the trials and suffering.”
Michelle offers some books and resources—including a potential book that she might be writing soon.
- Elisabeth Elliott author page on Amazon
- Joni Eareckson Tada author page on Amazon
- Lysa TerKeurst author page on Amazon
- Levi Lusko: Through The Eyes of a Lion
About Michelle
About OCF Crosspoint
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If discussions were food,,this would be one an athlete would benefit from!
Thoroughly enjoyed this! Great wisdom and insight.
US military is so much different from Indian/Pakistani army.
Our army men are so strong in faith be it in Hinduism or Islam.
Awesome testimony from Michelle. Lot of events, she spoke for the first.
Strong woman of faith.
May God continue to touch lives through you as He did thru Nabeel.
My wife and I have prayed for Nabil and Michelle almost daily since Nabil became sick. We have known nothing about how Michelle was doing.To read today, in OCF of all places!!!!, about how God has been strengthening and using Michelle, is almost magical to us. We had no idea she was OCF.
Oh Lord, Our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth.
God, be praised!
Don Rumbaugh, MD, Family Physician ex USAF Flight Surgeon and
OCF Andrews, Woenstrecht, Geilenkirchen, Fairchild, and Desert Storm
I know you married a Muslim (Nabeel) and that is acceptable for Muslim man to marry outside their religion. But the situation with me is I am a Christian trying to marry a Muslim woman, and her parents do no accept me…Any advice to me
I am from Papua New Guinea and am a Christian and a fan of Dr Nabeel Qureshi his sermons, preachings, speeches, and debates are very very inspirational. He’s a very powerful, anointing, talented, and inspirational person of God Almighty God Three One. I will forever miss him but his legacies will remain with me and others who he inspired. May he rest in eternal peace.
I came opun her late husband, Nabeel, on a Christian YouTube channel. And just coming across all the stuff had given me more comfort as a Christian.
It’s not how long a life we’ve lived but how well we have lived I wish I could have met Bro. Nabeel. May others, whether they be Muslims, Hindu, whatever – may they see the love of Christ in and thru us! May our fruits be good. Brother Curt
Thank you for this interview. Profound truths about suffering and its position in life.