There were times whereby I felt very hopeless. I felt like God couldn’t hear me and it was always at the times when I had little faith and felt drained. In those times I would tell myself to stay positive and not to act like a big baby. That things would fall into place eventually. Crying has never helped anyone and besides, the answer to whatever you’re facing always comes.

I’ve always experienced hardships, even after the death of my mother there were not a lot of people I could to turn to when I was even in need. It was scary and it was difficult and it made me feel so hopeless. Honestly, without parents you just feel hopeless and clueless – like there is no one to help you. There is a living God alright and He’s been there since the day I of my mother’s death. I find it difficult to stay faithful when I want something so badly but it just doesn’t happen, but God always comes up with a solution.

Finding employment was a challenge for me but you know what they say, “When one door closes, another door opens after some time and praying and patience.” I eventually got a job and began working. I ran out of the basic things I needed and had to sell my old clothes and valuables to take care of myself until I got paid. No one was there to help me, I had to help myself. I had a couple of favours that I could call in and I did. I didn’t bother with things I wanted because I told myself that I would buy those things once I had enough money.

Being in control of life and the way I wanted it to be like was really nice. I mean, nobody can tell me anything and I’m grown up now to make good and wise decisions for myself. I’m the kind of individual who inspires, motivates and makes me want to see myself where I belong.

Personally I’m motivated by my goals; I know what I want and how I want it. I’m working towards that and I’m praying to God that he drives me that way.

Here are some other people’s stories and solutions:

Mary, because of her background, faced many hardships and she didn’t have any parents or family relatives to support her. She lived with her boyfriend who was the one who provided for her and gave her what she desired. She knew that depending on other people was a bad thing so she tried to find a job. She only got one 5 years later. She became a member of a shopping centre’s mall management.

This made her boyfriend jealous then he suddenly started abusing her because she was independent and had a higher occupation than him. Mary loved her boyfriend. She had expected him to be happy for her and not feel insecure. Mary couldn’t take the abuse anymore and decided to leave her boyfriend because things were beyond her control even though she loved him much.

Mr Johnson was the breadwinner in his home, a single father of two twin daughters who were 9 years old. He worked as a gardener and he didn’t have any school qualification. There were times when he, Mr Johnson, would starve with his children because he didn’t get paid enough. One day, he sat and thought about hardship of his life and his children. He had prayed countless of times for a better life with no answer.

He then decided to finish his high school education through a government school. Mr Johnson passed matric and applied to study further. He received a bursary to study further and was offered a well-paying admin job within that same time period. Those were all challenges for him but he came up with a solution that was able to fix what seemed like was beyond his control.

Kyle was a 19-year-old teen who lived with his alcoholic mother. When his mother was drunk she would abuse him and Kyle would do nothing. He was an understanding person and understood that his mother drank because it eased the pain and suffering she carried inside herself. Sometimes when she was too drunk she would hit him. Kyle had goals. He constantly acted as if everything was fine.

After high school he went to study medicine so that he could help other people. After graduating from medical school he took in his mother and helped her live a sober and better life. His mother became a better person because of that. Kyle forgave her for the years she constantly abused him which brought him and his mother closer. Kyle’s circumstances were beyond his control until he did something about it that could benefit him and his mother. They knew that they were the only family they had and that they needed each other.

I know that there are things in life that are out of our control. We all face these and some things can be fixed if you’re willing to do something about it. Look at me, I don’t have any parents, it’s a struggle. I have to go to work and insist on going to school afterwards. I know it’s a challenge, it hurts and it gets to me all the time. Instead of crying, I’m always thinking about my next step and how I’m going to fight my barrel as a young adult. I can do it and as old as you are you , can do it too.

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Tell us what you think: Who do you turn to for support?