When We Aren’t Sure What To Do

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

Lexi’s neighbors had lived next door for six months. Lexi didn’t know the family well, but she had spent time with their son and daughter. One day, her new friend whispered something to Lexi that worried her. Her friend said that her dad was hurting her brother, using a belt that left marks. Lexi’s stomach twisted into knots when her friend’s brother pulled the hem of his shirt up to reveal bruises on his back. Most adults treat kids well. But some adults hurt instead of help kids. Lexi knew that is called abuse, and she also knew she needed to tell someone who could help.

The next weekend, Lexi had a sleepover at Claire’s house. It was there she found the courage to whisper her neighbor’s story aloud. Claire listened to her story and grabbed Lexi’s hand in reassurance. “We need to tell my mom,” Claire said. Knowing that Claire’s mom was a social worker who worked to help kids in the area, Lexi agreed.

A few minutes later, Claire’s mom crouched in front of Lexi. Her eyes were serious as she thanked her for talking to her about it. She asked Lexi to tell her what the neighbor girl had said and about the marks she had noticed. “We can look into this,” Claire’s mom said. “No one needs to know the information came from you. Would that be okay?”

Lexi nodded, feeling relieved. She knew she had done the right thing in trusting Claire’s mom.

Sometimes we are uniquely positioned to be able to help a friend who is in trouble. But facing a big problem can feel scary. As Christians, we are never alone. Jesus is always with us. He wants us to trust him with our worries, and we can always start with prayer. But when we face situations that are too big for us to handle alone, we can also turn to trusted adults whom God has placed in our life to help us.

Things to Think About

• Have you ever experienced a situation that felt too big for you? Brainstorm a list of trusted adults you could talk to in a situation like that.

DAILY ACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Talk to a parent or trusted adult about what to do if you think a friend is being abused in some way. Write out a specific action plan that lists who you should talk to about your worries or a help line you can call.