Bullies and Forgiveness

There is nothing I truly hate in this world, but there are many things I don’t like. I don’t like dill pickles, parsnips, insect bites and myriad of other items. Tyrants who pray on others are at the top of the list. They are bullies plain and simple, and forgiveness is required to keep ourselves aligned and at peace.

There are many kinds of bullies. Those who pick on people they deem weaker or lesser than themselves. The ones who hide behind their invisible screens, tearing people down who are just trying to make others smile. Bullies who make fun of, or put down those clearly suffering from mental health issues, and bullies who try to disrupt the peaceful lives of others, are just a few types, but they are many.

Did I mention I don’t like bullies? I really don’t, but it not the person I dislike. It is their actions. So how do we deal with bullies and keep our joy?

This is the rule, to love one another as yourself. A rule that can be extremely hard to follow. How do you love someone who is constantly hurting or bullying you? The only answer I can give is to look to the cross. When Jesus was hanging there, did he scorn those who put him there? No. With great love for his people, Jesus asked the Father to forgive them. What a beautiful gift, and wonderful example for us all.

We must remember that most bullies don’t even like themselves, or they themselves are hurting. For some, this is the only way they know, because they’ve lived it all their life. Unfortunately, they must be the ones to break the pattern. This doesn’t mean we can’t help them in the process.

When someone bullies another, they hand themselves over to the works of the enemy, and therefore, are more miserable. They don’t walk away feeling satisfied, even if that is what most of us believe. Works of harm and hatred are emotions unaligned with our soul. These emotions and actions take us out of harmonious balance, making us uncomfortable in our own skin.

For bullies, they are searching for a satisfaction and happiness that is hard to find. They want others to join them in their misery, so they try to pull in people of similar nature so they are not alone.

The best thing you can do for the bully is to pray. Pray for their healing. Do not validate them by responding, but do not let them push you around, either. Recognize they are trying to make their pain your own and walk away. Ignore their words and thank God that you recognize the issue.

It is not always easy to see God in the middle of a mess, when another is beating us down with their words, and sometimes their fists. He can be found, though. Never forget that He himself was persecuted, taunted, and beaten. He understands what it feels like, both physically and mentally. This is where we find Him, at the foot of the cross, where we stand, forgiven freely.

If you have a bully in your life, make sure you are safe. It is okay to walk away from an abusive relationship, just don’t walk away from God in the process thinking He has forgotten you. He has not, and never will.

Hold firm to your faith and, thus, your joy. Most importantly, pray for the person who is bullying you. Pray their hurts will be healed, and they will find love; that their chains of bondage will be broken and permanently severed from the enemy that binds them. After you have done this, forgive them. Forgive them every day until you can think of them without pain, anger, or any other negative emotion.

Bullies and forgiveness go hand in hand. When we understand this, we can move forward and free ourselves from the invisible chains they are trying to ensnare us with. If you are having difficulty forgiving, ask God to help you.The path of forgiveness is found in one simple sentence: “As Jesus forgave us, so I forgive you.”

Free inspirational or motivational posts can be found on the inspirational page of Leslie’s website.