How to cope with bullying

What can you do if someone is bullying you at school, on the street, or sometimes even on your Web Blog?


First of all, let's look for some wisdom.
The Bible says to ask God for wisdom and He will give it to us. (James 1.5) The Bible also says to have self-control (Galatians 5.22).

Wisdom and self-control are your best allies against Bullies.

Often bullies pick on someone because they need recognition and they'll do anything to get it.
To succeed, they need two things: a public and a victim.
So the ways the public or the victim react will either reinforce or weaken the bully.
Since we cannot act in place of others but we sure can work on ourselves!

Here are a few tips God gives us in His Word:

1. Matthew 5.38-39: You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth'. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Jesus understood that people attack others to provoke them into a fight. They are simply looking for more reasons to bother us again.
Remember: Vengeance leads to vengeance. It will not solve anything.

2. Proverbs 12.16: A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

As this proverb says, keep calm and do not react rashly when someone provokes you.

3. Luke 10.25-28: On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? What is written in the Law? he replied. How do you read it? He answered: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' You have answered correctly, Jesus replied. Do this and you will live.

Often Jesus was confronted by people who wanted to trick him with difficult questions.
What was his strategy? In return he asked questions.
Why? Because that way he had the upper hand and was the one leading the conversation.
It's the others who had to answer the question he had asked.
In the same way we can answer to bullies by asking a question.  
For example you could say: why are you doing this? Stop please.
Let him know in between that you are going to take the appropriate action if he doesn't stop because you're not afraid from him. You must act in such way to make it easier for him to stop annoying you rather than bothering you. Remember: self-control and wisdom are the key.

4. Luke 10.29: But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

How interesting to see that the man who tried to trick Jesus now shows his ignorance in understanding the law he had just recited. Keep in mind that bullies are not as strong and dangerous as you imagine. They too have weaknesses.

5. Matthew 5.43-45: You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

God wants you to pray for your enemies. He or she doesn't have the privilege you have to know God and be loved by God. Ask God to help him or her to know Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

Last but not least:
Don't keep it to yourself. You're not obliged to suffer from bullying.
If you are suffering from bullying and can't stop it, then you must tell someone about it.
It can be a friend, your parents, a teacher, your pastor, etc. They are able to help you.

God bless