The Challenge of Bullies

Bullies have one goal in mind, to devastate the person they have targeted. Their goal is to alarm and frustrate their victim. When we respond in anger, they have accomplished their goal.

If we love the bully, we will not allow them to see their words or actions as effective. They need to see that their tactics don't work, that they are not able to make us hate them giving them the excuse that we deserved what they did.

Bullies only have power over us if we respond to them. I was once told by a wiser older lady that when I encounter this rudeness, I should just begin praying to the Lord out loud, turning it all over to Him. That was very good advice. The bully will either feel ashamed or if he is hardened he will leave because God becomes the power and not him. God can lead us as to what action or words we need to take.

One thing is for sure, the Holy Spirit in us can give us whatever we need to be Christlike in spite of the attacks of others.

It doesn't matter what the bully does, we are to seek to be Christlike. It would be good to read about the life of Christ and His responses to those who mistreated Him.

There isn't much we can do about the bully, but we can arm ourselves with Scriptures that tell us what we should be and do, here are a few;

Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Matthew 15:18 "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person."

Proverbs 16:24 "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."

Proverbs 13:3 "Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin."

Proverbs 15:1 "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Proverbs 21:23 "Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble."

Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

Here is the one that is hardest to submit too, but brings the greatest joy to us and perhaps the bully;

Romans 12:14 "Bless them who persecute you: bless, and curse not."

With God's help, through prayer and meditation on His Words, we can be what we should no matter what the circumstances.