Bullies

Earlier this week I read a children's story by Max Lucado. In the story, a group of bullies targets a small boy and his bike. The boy's parents remind him of Moses, who, though trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, was calm and trusted in God to take care of him and the Israelites. In the end, one of the bullies falls and hurts himself, the little boy summons his father for help, the bully feels remorse, and the story concludes, leaving the reader feeling secure that the little boy will be safe.

Bullies are not limited to the elementary school playground. Even as adults, we sometimes find ourselves being tormented by co-workers, bosses, and other peers. It seems it is part of human nature to strive for power regardless of the cost. And let's not forget the ultimate bully, Satan. His strategies are to ambush and to persistently poke at our emotional, mental, and spiritual weaknesses until our defenses crack and we cave in. As David said of the wicked in general, "His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims" (Ps. 10:7-8).

David was the target of bullies. In Psalm 10, he records his thoughts. "In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises...His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and (God's) laws are far from him" (Ps. 10:2, 5a). Sometimes we feel that God is not watching or that He does not care. However, we also know of the wicked that "in his pride the wicked does not seek (God); in all his thoughts there is no room for God...He says to himself, 'Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble'" (Ps. 10:4, 6). What foolishness!

Remember that evil operates on lies. The wicked may think they have won, that they are in power. Their victims may believe it at times. But David reminds himself and us, "The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more" (Ps. 10:16-18). Remember also as you struggle in your dealings with other people, that "...our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 6:12). As I heard Joyce Meyer say on TV yesterday, we've got to stop being angry with other people and go to the source of evil. Remember what Jesus' main weapon was when He faced down Satan in the desert: God's Word. It is your sword to battle against evil (Eph. 6:17). Last weekend I watched Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Aragorn would never go into a battle without his sword--and neither should we. (I have to confess here that I love the character of Eowyn, the princess and warrior of Rohan. She's always got her sword with her! I hope to be like her when I'm in heaven. I don't think God would make me ride the bench just because I was a woman on earth. See the book Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge for more on that topic. I highly recommend it, as well as Wild at Heart.)

In the Max Lucado story, two angels reveal that they worked the wonders at the Red Sea. They also intervene in the suffering of the little boy. God sent angels to minister to Jesus after He was tempted by Satan. And God sends His angels to protect us. Psalm 91:11 reveals that "(God) will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."

You are not alone in your daily battles. Ask God to intervene in your worries today.