Playground bullies are those kids in the movies that prowl around looking for someone vulnerable to attack. It's obvious in the movies that this kind of person gets a boost of pleasure that feeds their own insecurity. Not only is an innocent person victimized, but the feeble "high" from hurting another is so short lived a bully is immediately back at it again; hunting for their their next ugly opportunity.
NEWS FLASH! It's not just kids. Sadly many adults don't outgrow this with the maturing of the rest of their body. Saddest is they are in desperate need of love, but like an injured animal, it's scary and sometimes dangerous to comfort or try to help them.
The movies aren't too far off in their bully depiction and if you've ever been "dogged" by a bully then you know how tiresome and discouraging it can be.
Take heart ~ we also see in the same movie that the "little guy," the one being bullied; he learns valuable lessons & gains insight he normally would not have. This enlightenment helps him to move on - forgive and usually he learns how to stand with his own convictions even in the face of the storm. Like Christ said "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock." Matthew 7:24
You see, sometimes as believers we can falter, feel uncertain. We can wonder why God would allow these hardships in our life. But just look back at that verse.... the torrents raged... and still the house stood because it's foundation was unshakable! Friends, the ONLY unshakable foundation is Jesus Christ Himself!
The raging torrents are inevitable. What do you think was the easier way to build? On sand where the house could be leveled with a rake & the beams stabilized without even digging? Or the house that had to wait while heavy foundational stones were sought, transported and hoisted into place? Where the walls were laboriously anchored by drilling into stone?
Hardship strengthens us, prepares us for other trials yet to come. Through faith we learn to persevere & overcome until in many ways we are the house built on the rock, offering shelter to others in their storm. Through trials & faith we become more sincerely compassionate, more deeply anchored to The Rock.
There is so much to say on this ~ so much beautiful hope and joy! My heart only breaks for the bully whom the bible may describe as the one with the "hardened heart" who leans on his own pride & understanding. I can see why God asks us to fend them off with kindness. Not that we're asked to allow evil actions to go unaddressed or unrebuked, but that this prodigal son of HIS may realistically never return home. As a race, we break God's heart daily...
All of this does not make the bullying or other struggles stop, but it does make them easier to bare when we understand that God Almighty is at work with thoughts & ways that are far beyond our own. King Solomon was purported to say (and also my Momma), "This too shall pass," but I think Paul says it even better, "For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison." 2 Corinthians 4:17
"....Weeping may stay for the night, but JOY comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5
The night will end... & beyond it - Joy! ~ Wendy
May I also add an important NOTE here! If you are being bullied it likely does not feel "light" or "momentary." Child or adult - I urgently advise you to seek help. We are not meant to endure our troubles alone and the more isolated you feel the more urgently important it is to destroy that weapon being used against you! Literally the weapon is isolation, the single most effective tool to harm & destroy any person!
If you are being physically harmed and have no trustworthy adult/friend to turn to then call the police. Just do it!! Call them, and let the rest of the story unfold ~ Christ asks no one to endure abuse in lonely isolation.
Seek the help of others and keep seeking until you find a community. My advise is people in a bible believing church, but please remember that all people are just people and if you don't find the support you need KEEP LOOKING! Do all of this while searching the Word of God (and even when things get better... Keep Doing It!) DO NOT LOSE HOPE! Someday you will likely be the experienced help (house on the Rock) someone else is looking for.
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