Wasted Teens

by Matt Williams

It challenges me to give 'my testimony' - I made my first commitment when I was 9 or 10. This means that I have been a Christian for about 20 years. Over this time, I have made (and repeated) some amazing blunders!

I have made (and repeated) some amazing blunders!

I grew up in a Christian home, my Dad was, and is, an Anglican lay preacher. My Mum & Dad were also youth leaders and did camps for 120-200 11-16 year olds each summer, and it was at one of these where I made my first commitment.

I was the lead guitarist in the Tamworth YFC worship Band when I was 15. It folded a year or so later, along with my youth group, and I stopped going to church - As a 16 year old, I found it too tough with no youth group, so I left.

Two years passed, when inevitably, I fell away increasingly. I still had my own praise and worship times in my bedroom, but these were growing less frequent.

At 18, I was a confused bloke

At 18, I was a confused bloke - I had started 3 science A-levels at 16 and quit, gone to study Drama and quit, worked as a glass collector, started Music and English A-levels, and quit - started various jobs, and quit. I had a serious bout of glandular fever for 8 months, during which time I completed an A-level sociology course. I started work on my 19th birthday.

I started going to a different church with one of my mates - I wanted to seek God, and I very much wanted what I hadn't had for the last 2 years.

I started looking for a better job, on the strength of my pending Sociology A-level. Things were looking OK - Church + Job + A-level results = better job = career path = good after 2 years of pants!

I walked up the road ... waving my arm to the sky and shouting at God

Well, I failed the A-level (which was very unexpected) so, no better job or career path. Also I injured my elbow, which meant I couldn't do my current job and (worse for me) no guitar playing for a while.

I walked up the road with my arm in a sling, waving my other arm to the sky and shouting at God - I must have looked a right pratt! (and what a disgusting attitude to the LORD of lords and KING of kings)

As I did this, a big black bus drove past, with black tinted windows (kind of cool, all in black). On the back in large gold letters it said "NEW LIFE IN JESUS" - I burst into tears - God is good!

GOD HAS BLESSED MY SOCKS OFF

I'm afraid I have made many blunders since then, but GOD HAS BLESSED MY SOCKS OFF - and this is what I want to dwell on. He is Faithful and Just - will never leave me nor forsake me!

I helped lead a youth group in Tamworth. The youngsters blessed and encouraged me - their relationship with the Lord and what He did through them was amazing. How I wish I had been like them when I was 16-19. What a waste! God wanted to bless me & give me good things, but pratt me wasn't listening. the blessings I missed, the walk with the Lord I missed. My time was 2nd rate - God's time is best!

Coming up to date, my heart is to encourage people, especially "youngsters" to press on in to Jesus to receive His Spirit and exercise the gifts He gives, and to love Jesus so that their lives aren't 2nd rate! Oh yes, and I'm trying to cut down on my own blunders and press on into Jesus myself too!