When you find yourself entangled: An ABC approach
Too often we find ourselves entangled. Like a fly caught in a spider’s web, we can't figure out a way out. We have made a decision that we thought was good for us only to find that we are cornered and at our wit’s end. The sky around you has turned dark. It appears your whole world is about to crumble right on top of you. What do you do now?
In a country with all sorts of freedom like South Africa, many, mostly our youths often get caught in hasty decisions. Peer pressure has got many into trouble. The youths, with their penchant for adventure, have often indulged themselves in ventures which they often regret many a time. In my mind right now is a lady I met a few years ago. Because of a complex mix of circumstances, she found herself caught up in some “mysterious group” of people. It turned out that the group was a satanic cult. The temporary pleasures disappeared when she began to be forced to do bizarre things which were against her conscience.
Disaster lurks in the close corner when we get into crime, drugs, prostitution, and other despicable unnatural things and highly addictive ventures thinking that we are being cool. Being in a society which does not offer our kids adequate parental protection has only worsened matters.
My advice to youths is “stay right in the middle of the road”. But, what do you do when you find yourself entangled? You have finally realized your folly. You are now in trouble. You want to come out but it looks like a huge millstone has been tied down your neck. All your dreams and aspirations suddenly begin to ebb away. The feeling of self-hatred and hopelessness sets in. Some in those situations ponder the cowardly act of suicide.
Psalms 107 in the bible narrates stories of four groups of people who got into trouble. Some it was because of what they had done and others got themselves in trouble in course of normal business. One thing common that got these people out of their troubles strikes me. Verses, 6; 13, 19 and 28 all repeatedly tell us what they did:
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.If you are at your wit’s end, I challenge you to run straight into the arms of God. I am reminded of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar of Jericho who shouted to Jesus, “Jesus, Son of David, Have mercy on me”. He loves you. You will be amazed how so near to you he is. He has done it to me. He has done it to others. He can do it for you. Jesus loves you and is waiting for you. Just one call could change your life forever.
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