It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not
consumed, because His compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:22
Many would be amazed to learn how many times I have heard it said by fellow prisoners…
consumed, because His compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:22
Many would be amazed to learn how many times I have heard it said by fellow prisoners…
"If not for prison, I would be dead." Or they would say another version of it which is just as common, "If not for my getting arrested I would be dead by now."
It's been said that God works in mysterious ways. What may at the present moment seem to be something bad, may later on prove to be seen as a blessing. Such is the case when it comes to getting arrested.
No doubt the alleged offender is upset at being handcuffed and hauled into a police station. He may even be vigorously protesting his innocence by shouting over and over, "You got the wrong guy!"
But as the years go on and the now incarcerated individual continues to contemplate the circumstances which brought him to prison in the first place, he may begin to awaken to the reality that because of the way he was living, his getting arrested when he did may have actually saved his life.
Frankly, one's becoming aware of the idea that his arrest and eventual imprisonment turned out to be a good thing, does not happen to every convict. Most remain in denial throughout the duration of their sentence. But for those who do begin to embrace this viewpoint, from my observation it's most often the result of a spiritual awakening.
In our chapel, for example, where many of those who attend Bible studies and worship services have already repented of their sins and crimes and placed their faith in Jesus Christ, reaching this viewpoint is common.
At some point during our time of incarceration we each came to the realization that our lives were so out of control and hellbent on doing what we wanted to do, no matter the consequences, that, speaking of my own situation, getting arrested saved my life.
Some of us were so heavily addicted to drugs that we had no alternative but to keep stealing and sticking people up so that, sooner or later, we would have been shot dead, or overdosed. Or we were in a gang that was at war with a rival gang.
While as for myself, as I continued my demonically driven out of control crime spree, it was only by a miracle that I was not shot dead on the spot when cops came to arrest me.
Yes, I can honestly say that for me, it was prison or perish. If not for my getting arrested when I did, and for the mercy of God, where would I be right now? Probably in the grave.
D.B.
It's been said that God works in mysterious ways. What may at the present moment seem to be something bad, may later on prove to be seen as a blessing. Such is the case when it comes to getting arrested.
No doubt the alleged offender is upset at being handcuffed and hauled into a police station. He may even be vigorously protesting his innocence by shouting over and over, "You got the wrong guy!"
But as the years go on and the now incarcerated individual continues to contemplate the circumstances which brought him to prison in the first place, he may begin to awaken to the reality that because of the way he was living, his getting arrested when he did may have actually saved his life.
Frankly, one's becoming aware of the idea that his arrest and eventual imprisonment turned out to be a good thing, does not happen to every convict. Most remain in denial throughout the duration of their sentence. But for those who do begin to embrace this viewpoint, from my observation it's most often the result of a spiritual awakening.
In our chapel, for example, where many of those who attend Bible studies and worship services have already repented of their sins and crimes and placed their faith in Jesus Christ, reaching this viewpoint is common.
At some point during our time of incarceration we each came to the realization that our lives were so out of control and hellbent on doing what we wanted to do, no matter the consequences, that, speaking of my own situation, getting arrested saved my life.
Some of us were so heavily addicted to drugs that we had no alternative but to keep stealing and sticking people up so that, sooner or later, we would have been shot dead, or overdosed. Or we were in a gang that was at war with a rival gang.
While as for myself, as I continued my demonically driven out of control crime spree, it was only by a miracle that I was not shot dead on the spot when cops came to arrest me.
Yes, I can honestly say that for me, it was prison or perish. If not for my getting arrested when I did, and for the mercy of God, where would I be right now? Probably in the grave.
D.B.
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