September 11, 2018

Stop the Bullying

You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.

– Psalm 10:17-18

I didn’t know her but I think I would have liked her. Artistic. Sweet. Different. And dead. Because of the relentlessness of bullies.

No one helped. No one. Did anyone even notice? Did they brush off the threats she found in her locker? Did they ignore the laughter when her words didn’t come out quite right? Did they read the Facebook posts that bashed her again and again?

It’s too late to bring her back but it’s not too late to change ourselves. It’s not too late to make sure that this doesn’t happen to anyone else ever again.

Those who made threats and posted ugliness on social media are guilty. Those who looked the other way are guilty too. Bullies are after attention and power. Why do you let them have it?

I know. Some bullies are trying to cover up an abusive home or inability to do the school work. Some bullies are hurting and they’re lashing out, trying to control what they can. It’s not an excuse. There is no excuse. It’s just a desperate attempt to understand horrific cruelty.

What can a victim do? Most people, including parents, school administrators and teachers, don’t want to get involved. We don’t want to defend the least. We don’t want the bully to turn his or her attention toward us. We remain silent. What is wrong with us?

This week is National Suicide Prevention Week. Ironic, isn’t it? Or maybe not. Maybe her death will open the eyes of all of us, both the victims and those who bully them.

If you are a victim, tell someone you trust. Just do it. Don’t suffer in silence. If you’re in that black hole of despair, reach out. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline number is 1-800-273-8255. There are people willing to help 24/7. Sometimes having someone who understands, who’s willing to listen as you cry, can make all the difference.

But don’t give up. Just don’t. Don’t allow those bullies to steal your unique self from this world. God created each of us. We are made in His image. We are meant to be different and special and loved. You have a unique calling on your life. Don’t give up.

I understand how hard those dark days can be. I know what it feels like to think you can’t make it through another hour. Hold on anyway. Cry out to Jesus. Cling tightly to His Word. Reach out.

I know. I said that before but it’s just so true. All it takes is one person to throw you a lifeline. There are some pretty awful people in this world. But there are some pretty amazing people in this world too. Find one.

And if you’re part of the problem, stop it. Don’t hang out with people who think bullying is okay. Get involved in a church youth group. Attend a Bible study. Surround yourself with people filled with kindness and compassion. Ask God to help you change into a person worthy of His calling on your life.

Bullying will only stop when we stand firm against it. And suicide will only end when we care enough to get involved, to notice, to lend a hand. She was only 16. What a heartbreaking loss for all of us.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

God Never Leaves Us Alone

LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so people can no longer terrify them. -- Psalm 10:17-18

Have you ever given up on God? Have you ever grown tired of waiting and praying? Have you ever believed that God doesn’t hear you anymore? Have you ever felt you were totally on your own? Me too.

I know in my head that God never leaves us. I know that no matter how bad things seem, how hard life gets, God is right there with us every step of the way. I know that. I believe that. But sometimes I forget. How about you?

A sign in front of a local church said: The God on the mountaintop is the same God in the valley. How true. It is easy to believe and to trust, to have hope and deep faith, when you are on that mountaintop. The world is wonderful and life is great.

Then the valley hits. Always. Because that’s how life is. The brilliant light that warmed you on the mountaintop has turned dark and cold in the valley. The longer it goes on, the harder it is to remember the warmth of the sun. Time passes. You cry out again and again and nothing changes. Where is God? Why can’t you hear His voice? Why can’t you see Him? Why can’t you feel His Presence?

Then Satan puts that niggling doubt inside of you. Maybe God has left you in this place. Maybe He has finally given up on you. Maybe God has abandoned you. Maybe, just maybe, you really are on your own. Maybe the only one you have to depend on is yourself.

That’s when we tend to make some serious mistakes because we step out on our own. That’s never a good idea but Satan certainly wants us to think it is. He wants us to believe God has abandoned us so that we will abandon God. Don’t do it.

Trust God. Even when you can’t see Him or feel His Presence. Trust His faithfulness. Keep crying out to Him. Seek Him in all things. And wait for Him to reveal Himself. He will. Always. He will. Because God never leaves us alone. Not ever. Not in good times or in bad. God will deliver us. He will.

So our charge is to hold on to that fact even when our feelings tell us otherwise. Our goal is to keep the faith even when Satan tells us our faith is misplaced. Because faith in God, faith in our Creator, faith in our Father, is never misplaced. God is our rock when we’re in the valley. He is our cheerleader when we are on that mountaintop. He is with us always, until the end of time.